The Unsolved Case of The Secret Christmas Baby

 

 

The Unsolved Case of The Secret Christmas Baby is the first book in a Victorian cozy mystery series by Hannah Byron. Released 6th Dec 2022, it's 236 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.  For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is such an oddly written book that quite often, the choice of third person present tense overshadows the actual story. It does have many of the well-loved cozy tropes: deathbed confession, secret adoption, Victorian scandal, secret pregnancy, and holiday resolutions, but the pacing never really recedes sufficiently to make it an easy reading experience.

Although it's set in the Victorian era, there are lots of anachronistic phrases sprinkled throughout, for example "right on", the first registered usage of which wasn't for another 30 years. There are also some distractingly odd turns of phrase, for example calling her late husband her "benedict" no fewer than 23 times in the course of the book (his name was Thaddeus). 

All the oddities aside, this is a well written and engagingly constructed story with an interesting mystery and a worthwhile read. The second book in the series, The Peculiar Vanishing Act of Mr Ralph Herriot, is due for release in Aug 2023, and will also be included in the Kindle unlimited library according to the release info.

Three and a half stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Devon Bookshop

 

The Devon Bookshop is a dark fantasy by debut author V. E. Hall. Released 14th Nov 2022, it's 320 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a quirky paranormal fantasy set in and around a bookshop. There are ghosts (oh, so many ghosts), witches, benign and malign influences and a semi-hapless couple running the bookshop who believe (Acacia) or not (Matt) in the supernatural influences in their environs. 

It's charming by turns, the author has created a simple but entertaining story. The writing is choppy and unfinished in places; there's -so- much telling and not a lot of showing in her writing style. The basic story is solid, though, and nothing that wouldn't be fixed with a firm editing process. 

Three and a half stars. It's unclear from the denouement (and the author's website) if this will be a continuing series, but at the present time, there are no announcements of upcoming books. It does work well as a standalone, however. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Paper and Tape Crafts

 

Paper and Tape Crafts is a friendly, accessible tutorial and craft guide aimed at middle grade readers (and their facilitators/teachers/adults). Released 7th March 2023 by Callisto, it's 130 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

Resource people, childminders, parents, and educators are always on the lookout for activity books which are fun and engaging for the small people in their lives. This is a well written and fun book of 28 crafts activities aimed at middle school(ish) kids. Many of them would be usable in a classroom or library setting. I especially loved the washi tape map pins - simple but very useful.

Each tutorial includes a picture of the finished project, a bullet list of supplies needed, instructions for crafting, and many (many!) process photos. Photography is clear and in color. Instructions are written in understandable easy to follow language. 

Four stars. This would be great for public or school library acquisition, home use, activity/scouting groups, maker's spaces and studios, and similar.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Death by a Cornish Cove

 

Death by a Cornish Cove is the second Cressida Fawcett historical cozy by Fliss Chester. Released 9th Feb 2023, it's 276 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series is also currently available on KU, and a third book is due out in late second quarter 2023 (June . 

This is a beautifully rendered historical cozy featuring flapper Cressy Fawcett and her sidekick (a pug) named Ruby. It's set in interwar (1920's) England and protagonist Cressida is a lot more enamored of her independence and her motorcar than in finding a husband and settling down (egads!). She's drawn into mayhem (again) and danger (yet again) when she and Dotty motor to Cornwall for a country house weekend with lots of fizz, sun, sea, and murder. Civilized repartee joins up with a genteel cast of characters, secrets and skullduggery. The author seems to hit her stride in this second installment and the mystery, if a tiny bit predictable, is very well constructed and the prose is easy to read and breezy.

It's sure to appeal to fans of the original Golden Age authors (Christie, Marsh, Sayers, Allingham, and the others sadly departed). It's not an absolute dead ringer for their work (how could it be?), but it's satisfying and diverting nevertheless. With two books currently in the series and another due in June, it would also be a good choice for a buddy/mini-binge read.

Four stars. The language is squeaky clean and the violence is off page. It's civilized and fun (and Ruby the dog is wonderful). 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Three Can Keep a Secret - A Greer Hogan Mystery #3

Three Can Keep a Secret is the third Greer Hogan cozy(ish) mystery by M. E. Hilliard. Released 7th Feb 2023 by Crooked Lane, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback out in 1st quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This series is developing nicely, and the author writes well and clearly. The author has apparently worked as a librarian and seems to have a similar background in high-end retail fashion as her alter ego protagonist Greer. The librarian-dog-cozy-murder-smalltown-mystery sub-subgenre is always fun and this is a nice addition to the promising start laid down in the previous books. The murders are off-scene and mostly bloodless, there's no graphic content, the language is fairly clean, the characters are (mostly) likeable and intelligent and there are a plethora of suspects and lots of red herrings. I got a slight Agatha Raisin vibe.  She's smart and fashion conscious and sophisticated as well as vulnerable and not so perfect that she becomes insufferable. 

Since it's a librarian cozy, there are of course book tie-ins and title name-dropping. One of my favorite features of librarian cozies is the suggestions for titles, series, and authors with which I was previously unfamiliar. I found a couple of good ones in this book to follow up on as a nice bonus. I suspect most of the titles and series mentioned will be familiar to most readers.

The climax and denouement are well done. It's a fun, slightly melancholy cozy and full of the things which we all love about small-town cozies. Happily in this installment landlord Henri and his adorable bulldog Pierre feature somewhat more heavily. I hope they figure as prominently in the next book.

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 7 hours 58 minutes and is narrated by Kirsten Potter. She has an earthy low-toned rich alto voice and a well modulated general American accent (not notably regional).  She manages the read with good inflection and not too much breathiness, and readers will be able to concentrate on the narrative without noticing the narrator overly much. One slight codicil, for Francophiles, he accent for Henri's dialogue is not overly accurate. He doesn't have too much dialogue, so it won't be a problem for most readers. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read. 

Four stars. Highly recommended to fans of the genre. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

A Mischief of Rats - Nell Ward Mystery #3

 

A Mischief of Rats is the third book to feature ecology conservationist Dr. Nell Ward, by Dr. Sarah Yarwood-Lovett. Released 28th Feb 2023 by Bonnier on their imprint Embla Books, it's 420 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The previous 2 books in the series are also currently available on KU to borrow.

This is a diverting series featuring an intelligent female ecologist who finds herself in a dangerous and difficult situation when the murder of a flamboyant "bad boy" race driver occurs on her family's estate during a rally event and threatens to draw her family into danger and scandal. Although it has the bones of a cozy mystery, there are elements of procedural and some slightly more graphic violence and descriptions than are usually present in cozies. The usual romantic plot elements are present in abundance and for readers who don't like any romance in their cozies, proceed with caution - there's an semi-unresolved romantic triangle here with added family drama courtesy of Nell's boyfriend's family which has racial overtones (Nell is caucasian and her boyfriend and his family are ethnically Indian).

The main protagonist is a conservation ecologist and it's a profession which she shares with the author. It's an oft-said proverb that authors should write what they know, and Dr. Yarwood-Lovett has done just that; describing the realities of crawling through muck to collect water samples and collecting and analyzing diatoms in (human) bone marrow with gleeful abandon. 

The book is full of science tidbits and trivia and for me, that was the highlight. Without being pedantic or lecturing, the author pulls back the curtain on tantalizing bits of nature most never see. There are technical terms bandied about, and there are some places (courtroom expert testimony) which require a little more attention on the part of the reader - but they're relatively few and far between and I think most readers will have no problem understanding the jargon from context.

Four stars. It does move slowly in places, but the author does a thorough job of building up the characters' back-stories and settings. Definitely looking forward to finding out what comes next. This book has a self contained mystery arc, and so it works well enough as a standalone. With three books extant currently, and at least three more planned, it would be a good choice for a binge/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Widowmaker - Black Harbor #2

The Widowmaker is the second Black Harbor mystery by Hannah Morrissey. Released 6 Dec 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 4th quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a very well written and cleverly constructed mystery set in and around a fictive town in Wisconsin. The setting is the same area as the first book, though this book works well as a standalone and doesn't follow on directly from the first. 

This is a *very* dark and brutally written cold case/modern procedural. There are direct and graphic descriptions of abuse, torture, including abuse of a minor. Sensitive readers should likely steer clear. That being said, it *is* very well written and engaging. 

There's a large cast of characters and their interrelationships can only be described as very convoluted. The story is written in alternating third person PoV with each chapter labeled by character. The author is talented enough and the voices distinct enough that it wasn't ever a problem keeping them straight, but there were so many characters that it wasn't always straightforward to keep their relationships and motivations clear during the read. 

Four stars, with the codicil that readers who are bothered by graphic descriptions of violence should plan to skim or skip the book altogether. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Murder at St. Saviour’s - Flora Steele Mystery #5

 

Murder at St. Saviour’s is the fifth Flora Steele cozy mystery by Merryn Allingham. Released 21st Nov. 2022, it's 258 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free, as are the rest of the books in the series.

I love small-town cozies, historical mysteries, and light British crime. This one ticked a lot of boxes for me. It's capably written with an intelligent and appealing female bookstore owner drawn into another investigation with her friend Jack when they're asked to assist the official investigation into a newly-appointed church curate's death. Flora and Jack, who functions as her sidekick here, seem to go directly from point to point with very few distractions or false clues. The action does move resolutely forward, and it never drags, so although simple, it's an enjoyable and engaging read. There is no bad language or triggering content and the climax and denouement were satisfying and included a few twists I didn't see coming. 

Four and a half stars. This is an enjoyable historical British cozy. Fans of the genre will find a lot to like here. Despite being the fifth book in the series it works well as a self-contained standalone. The series continues to go from strength to strength and with so many books extant currently, it would make a great choice for a binge/buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

External Forces - The Marrowbone Spells #2

 

External Forces is the second fantasy alternate-history adventure novel by Shannon Fay. Released 8th Nov 2022, it's 507 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series, Innate Magic, is also currently available on KU. 

This is an entirely action driven plot and the ensemble cast careen from drama to crisis and back again without pause, more or less throughout. There's not a lot of dramatic range in the individual characters, and the good ones are misunderstood and generally good and the bad ones are thoroughly despicable more or less throughout. There are a couple of redemption arcs, but for the most part, the characters continue on the path they're on from start to finish.

The world building is quite interesting and the schools of magic and how they work are clearly the product of a lot of work and planning by the author. The basic framework of the world is *very* loosely based on our own world, and despite the stated time setting of 1958, the dialogue, setting, and character interactions really hearken back to a much earlier time period (Georgian or Victorian); so much so that mentions of automobiles or James Dean (for example) are quite anachronistic and jarring. 

The draw for many YA/NA readers will be the exploration of gender roles, romance, and romantic entanglements. Several of the primary characters are gay, bi, curious, ace, and/or aro. There is a fair bit of cross dressing and fun inclusion of cloth magic as a tool for cross dressing expression included in a non-judgemental way. 

There is some graphic violence, including a shocking disfiguring death-by-fall, consensual and non-consensual torture and body horror, and murder. There's an extended torture scene which sensitive readers will probably want to skim. There's also some undead(ish) horror-lite, as well as a fair bit of consensual strongly implied intimate physical contact.

Well written but often meandering. Worth a look for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Cassandra Clare. It's not explicit or steamy, but there is strongly implied physical contact. It's the second book in the series and doesn't work super well as a standalone read.

Four stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The Bride Wore White - Burning Cove #7

The Bride Wore White is the seventh book in the historical Burning Cove paranormal mysteries by Amanda Quick. Released 2nd May 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a character driven paranormal mystery with very tenuous tie-ins to characters in some of the other books. Since they don't follow on from one another, it can be read as a standalone without losing continuity. The series format focuses each book's plot around a couple and their romance and unraveling a mystery, in this case, solving a psychically motivated murder and revenge plot against the protagonist, Prudence, who keeps having to reinvent herself to escape each new attempt.

The plotting and writing are above average, the mystery is straightforward, and the solution inevitable, but otherwise an above average read for lovers of historical romance/mystery with a paranormal element. The dialogue is uneven, but nothing egregious (some minor anachronisms and occasionally overwrought passages, but otherwise fine). 

Three and a half stars. Diverting and worth a look for fans of paranormal mystery/romance.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Who Cries for the Lost - Sebastian St. Cyr #18

Who Cries for the Lost is the 18th Sebastian St. Cyr mystery by C. S. Harris. Released 18th April 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 352 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Despite being the 18th book in the series, the author manages to strike a fine balance between providing a twisty and engaging mystery, while still delivering a satisfying read featuring the characters with whom readers have a long and enduring history. The strength and intelligence and synergistic delight of seeing Hero, her husband Sebastian, their growing family, and even his carriage "tiger", Tom, interacting and supporting one another is worth the read alone, but the author has wrapped the heart of the characters inside a historical plot which is so skillfully interwoven around real Regency history that it's not always clear where reality becomes fiction. There is an engaging and very well constructed mystery, but also a great deal of apt and perceptive social commentary which will resonate.

This is one of my favorite ongoing historical mystery series and I always look forward to new installments with anticipation. Although it's the latest of 18 books in the series, it works reasonably well as a standalone and new readers won't have any trouble following the story. With so many volumes extant in the series, it would make an excellent choice for a long binge or buddy read.

Five stars, a worthy addition. Highly recommended for public library acquisition, home use, or gift-giving.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic

Transmogrify! is a YA fantasy anthology edited by G. Haron Davis. Released 16th May 2023 by HarperCollins on their HarperTeen imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is an anthology of 14 fantasy short fiction pieces by non-binary authors and featuring non-binary characters. It's unclear from the material provided for review, but it seems that these stories are previously unpublished, and it contains all-new content. There are no story introductions but the editor/publisher has included short author bios in the back of the book for further information/following.

The stories are varied, there were (as always) some which didn't grab me personally, but all were well written and competently plotted. They were mostly in the 3.5 - 4 star range(ish) with a smattering of really standout stories.

One reason I prefer collections and anthologies is that short fiction is really challenging.  It's spare and the author doesn't have a wealth of wordage to develop characters or the plotting.  Well written short fiction is a delight. I also love collections because if one story doesn't really grab me, there's another story just a few pages away.  I can only recall a few times where I've read a collection (or anthology) straight through from cover to cover as I did this one.  

Four stars on average. It's a diverting read, but readers should be aware of potentially triggering descriptions of violence, suicide ideation, misgendering, light body horror, and transphobia.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. 

The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume I: Lila the Werewolf and Other Stories

The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume I: Lila the Werewolf and Other Stories is the a collection of short(er) fiction by perennial author Peter S. Beagle. Released together with its sister volume 16th May 2023 by Tachyon, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a wonderfully curated collection of 16 pieces, all of which I had previously read, but which still had the power and relevance to render me breathless. There simply isn't a lesser or unworthy story in the entire lot. Mr. Beagle is a superlative writer with a sublime and consummate command of English as well as being a master of written fiction and he is here in top artistic form.

Each of the stories contains a short introduction by the author himself. The collection is also enhanced by the intricate chapter headings and line drawings of artist Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, whose art is ethereal and reminiscent of Sulamith Wülfing and calls to mind P. Craig Russel as well, without being the slightest bit derivative of either.

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, and for gift giving purposes. For connoisseurs of speculative fiction, this is required reading. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume II: Oakland Dragon Blues and Other Stories

 

 

The Essential Peter S. Beagle, Volume II is the second collection of short(er) fiction by perennial author Peter S. Beagle. Released together with its sister volume 16th May 2023 by Tachyon, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a wonderfully curated collection of 16 pieces, including one previously unpublished, four previously uncollected, and several which were unfamiliar to me. There wasn't a dud in the entire lot. Mr. Beagle is a superlative writer with a sublime and consummate command of English as well as being a master of written fiction. 

Each of the stories contains a short introduction by the author himself. The collection is also enhanced by the intricate chapter headings and line drawings of artist Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, whose art is ethereal and reminiscent of Sulamith Wülfing and calls to mind P. Craig Russel as well, without being the slightest bit derivative of either.

Five stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, and for gift giving purposes. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Snakes: From Vipers to Boa Constrictors

Snakes: From Vipers to Boa Constrictors is a beautiful photographic book about snakes by Julianna Photopoulos. Due out 14th June 2023 from Amber Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

The first section of the book includes a very basic introduction on snakes as a general family. The bulk of the book contains a gorgeous and very colorful primer of specific snake species arranged by continent. Each entry includes a common name, the genus and species names, and numerous crystal clear photos of the snake, and various behaviours. 

This is a gorgeous hardcover coffee table book. I found it quite appealing and would definitely recommend it for the home or school library or a very nice gift. To appreciate and protect the future of our planet, people have to learn to appreciate and love the creatures with whom we share the earth. A lot of ignorance and fear can be dispelled with calm and factual information. This book shows snakes in their habitats as interesting and worthy of our respect and protection. Many (most?) of the photos are stock photos collected from commercial companies; they're all credited in the index.

Five stars. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Plant-Powered Protein

Plant-Powered Protein is a tutorial and theory guide to eating adequate protein on a plant-based diet written and curated by dietitians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina, and agronomist Cory Davis. Released 28th March 2023, it's 192 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

The authors are professionals working in nutrition and allied fields (one is an agronomist). They provide science and practice based research for their assertions. The authors expend a considerable amount of effort exploring the background of some of the sociopolitical realities behind farm subsidies and lobbying and how they affect meat farming and agriculture, especially in the US. 

The content is arranged in chapters thematically, exploring protein in general, and by life phase (pregnancy, lactation, infancy, toddler, up through adult). The chapters are *full* of raw data and statistics, tables, and expository information which gives an overall thorough and convincing picture of the benefits and realities of plant based diets. This is a monograph on plant based protein, and NOT much of a cookbook. There are some recipes gathered in the final chapter of the book which are varied and attractive, but they're not the chief focus of the book. 

Recipes are written with a description/intro, ingredients in a bullet list, and followed by step by step prep and cooking directions. Ingredient measurements are provided in imperial (American) units, with metric measures in parentheses (yay!!). Nutritional info is included for each recipe, as well as alternative ingredients for taste or necessary dietary restrictions. Most of the recipes include one or more color photos. Serving suggestions are attractive and appealing.

Four stars. An enthusiastically and motivationally written book with very general recipes. Readers will likely need more specific training advice as well as a broader selection of recipes. What the book does, and does well, is make a compelling argument for plant based nutrition being beneficial for health and performance as well as the heath of our biosphere. It also includes a comprehensive cross-referenced index for finding information quickly; important as this is a very very information dense volume full of tables and statistics. It would be well suited to readers who are looking for reference material, not chiefly for the recipes. It would also be a good selection for more formal classroom use for diet/nutrition and allied subjects.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Knock, Knock: In Pursuit of a Grand Unified Theory of Humour

Knock, Knock is a humorous and accessible monograph on the *nature* of humour by William Hartston. Released 9th May 2023 by Watkins Publishing, it's 224 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

The author poses the question to readers: Why, when we know so little about *what* humour actually is and *why* we find things funny (or not), would anyone write a book about the subject? He spends the next couple hundred pages doing an entertaining and enlightening job doing precisely that. It's not academic in scope or language, but the book is helpfully annotated throughout and the chapter notes are both erudite and entertaining. Amongst the annotations -are- a plethora of academic treatises on various related subjects which will give keen readers a fertile source to mine for further reading.

Much (most?) of the time, rigorously writing about what's funny is distinctly unfunny. E.B. White famously said “Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better but the frog dies in the process.” In this case, the author's bonhomie, intelligence, and wit carry the day, and readers will likely experience grins and a giggle in the course of the read. 

Four stars. This would make a good choice for school or public library acquisition, home use, or gift giving. Spelling and vernacular are British standard English (as is the author), but won't cause issues in context for readers from elsewhere. 

 Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Six Ostriches - Dr. Bannerman Vet Mystery #2

 

Six Ostriches is the second Dr. Bannerman veterinary mystery by Dr. Philipp Schott. Due out 23rd May 2023 from ECW Press, it's 256 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a credible follow up to the first story, featuring an amateur sleuth who is also a veterinarian and somewhat neurodivergent (but high-functioning) protagonist alongside his trusty canine sidekick Pippin, a husky/lab/border collie mix with a gifted sense of smell and an unusually high degree of intelligence to go with it. Dr. Bannerman struck me as an odd guy, generally likeable but also stubborn and often pedantic. I appreciated the nerdy culture references which the author wrote into the story, and it's cool that his wife is a nerdy fibre artist and knitting designer.

The book is well plotted and moves along at a good clip; definitely action driven and engaging. Unusually in this case, the characterizations are above average and believably rendered. There were a few places in the book where the dialogue didn't ring true for me at all, but all in all, well written and enjoyably readable. The overarching mystery is heavily foreshadowed and not a surprise, but there were motivations and hidden aspects which definitely surprised me. The climax, denouement, and resolution had a bit too much deus-ex-machina to be entirely satisfying, but overall I enjoyed it very much. 

It's not really a cozy mystery at all and shares more in common with modern medical thrillers than "James Herriot". The author is clearly familiar with rural Manitoba and he does a great job describing the weather, the area, and the history of the place. There is some on-page violence as well as some mildly graphic descriptions of blood and exanguination, mutilation of livestock, and a couple of quite shocking decapitations. Language and dialogue are mostly PG rated shading toward the R-rated end of the spectrum. The author has not shied away from mentioning and exploring the themes of right-wing political culture and extremism. Also, there's explicit violence toward animals and very sensitive readers might want to check the discussion threads (spoiler: the dog doesn't die).

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 7 hours and 26 minutes and is capably narrated by Miles Meili. He has a rugged and rough-edged baritone which suits the dialogue very well. Sound and production quality are high throughout the recording. 

Four stars. Very enjoyable and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next for Peter, Laura, and Pippin (&co). The author/publisher have included a sneak peek at the third book in the series, Eleven Huskies.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Ukulele of Death

Ukulele of Death is the first book in a new SF(ish) mystery series by pseudonymous author E.J. Copperman. Released 2nd May 2023 by Severn House, it's 284 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a tongue in cheek lightly humorous mystery opener with a brother/sister pair of private investigators who aren't entirely human, but not entirely robot either. There are quirky aspects which are never really explored, such as them having to plug in to recharge occasionally (but not consistently). There's also endless repartee around their physical appearance, Fran is remarkably tall, and the author never lets an opportunity pass to comment on it.

The plot and investigative puzzles are pretty well constructed and the writing is entertaining and lighthearted. The humor will be hit or miss for most readers. I found it repetitive and trying in places. I did love the premise of semi-human super intelligent created protagonists and thought the background and world building for the overarching evil-shadow-corporation back-story was intriguingly done. 

Four stars. Odd but eminently readable; tries too hard to be funny in some places. Credible plot and well executed. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes 

The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook: Identify and Solve Common Pest Problems on Edible Plants - All Natural Solutions!

The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook is an organic based troubleshooting guide for garden support and pest protection by Susan Mulivhill. Released 27th April 2021 by Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 208 pages and is available in paperback, spiral-bound, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a practical and accessible guide, well arranged and sensibly realistic in its reach and scope. The author is clearly knowledgeable and experienced and that comes through in the text. The introduction does a good job of introducing and explaining some basic terms (what -is- organic gardening, what is integrated pest management, "bug" ID, a solid overview of good cultural practice and how to adapt and integrate it into the reader's particular situation, wildlife and diversity, and how to attract wildlife/birds for a robust and diverse biome. Although it's easy to understand for beginners, there's a lot of information here and even more advanced gardeners will find tips and good advice. 

The following chapters include a gallery/bestiary of bugs which include the most common (and a few uncommon) bugs which gardeners in North America are likely to encounter. Profiles include photos of both the bugs (some with multiple photos of different life stages) and what the damage to plants typically looks like. The profiles also include taxonomy info (Latin name) as well as life cycle, range, and controls. 

The book's third section is a well organized tutorial guide for different organic pest control treatments and a neat collection of DIY project tutorials. It's photographed clearly and in color throughout. The author has also included a resource/suppliers list, a rogue's gallery of bug-shots, and a cross-referenced index. 

Five stars. Well written and useful. This would make an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, allotment/community garden library, and home use. Although this book is slanted toward readers in North America, there are enough common garden pests here which will be quite familiar to gardeners on other continents.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.