The Mistletoe Murder Club - The Bad Girls Detective Agency #4

 

The Mistletoe Murder Club is the fourth book featuring Clio (and the "bad girl detectives")  by Katie Marsh. Released 5th Sept 2025 by Boldwood Books, it's 290 pages and is available in hardcover, 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 throughout.  For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU. 

This is a undemanding and fun holiday themed cozy mystery with a former actress in her second career as a private detective. The largely female cast is filled with quirky humorous characters, over the top and silly, but not egregiously so, given the very (very) light cozy genre. 

There are a lot of trope aspects: a collection of eccentric oddballs for local color, amateur dramatics/panto, and lots and lots of snarky in-fighting. The dialogue aims for very light bantering humor and mostly succeeds. Some of the dialogue is so unrealistic that it yanked me out of the story, but mostly, it's standard for the subgenre. The author does a good job with including enough backstory to move the narrative along without drowning readers in too much info. Despite being the fourth book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone read.

It's a very lighthearted, often silly, humorous holiday cozy mystery with oddball characters and a completely over the top denouement and resolution. The solution was foreshadowed fairly heavily, but there were a couple of twists in the climax which, although completely crazy, added some excitement. There are some issues with cultural differences between Americans and Brits which are belabo(u)red and unnecessary. (For example saying that Americans don't eat baked beans... they're not the SAME as beans in tomato sauce which Brits eat on toast, but they DO eat them)... 

Three stars. It would be a good choice for a binge/buddy cozy read (the whole series is available on KU). 

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

The Dying Light - Two Rivers #4

 

The Heron's Cry is the fourth Matthew Venn procedural murder mystery by Ann Cleeves. Due out 29th Sept 2026 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 384 pages and will be 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 throughout.

This is another beautifully written mystery set in North Devon and featuring Detective Matthew Venn, a cerebral and solemnly intelligent investigator tasked with unraveling the tragic deaths of two young women at a very high-end summer home. The pacing of the investigation is unhurried and the characters built up so well and in such detail that they live and breathe. The secondary characters are carefully and completely delineated and distinct. Even Lucy Braddick from the earlier books in the series is included tangentially in this book as well. It really was a delight to read. 

Although it's the fourth book in the series, it works very well as a standalone. This book is also quite intricately plotted, but there aren't any major spoilers if they're read out of order. The denouement and resolution were exciting and well crafted, although melancholy.

The language is rough in places (R-rated), and there are some blood/gore descriptions on page. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours 48 minutes, and is expertly read by series narrator Jack Holden. He has a pleasantly nuanced voice and manages numerous characters with widely divergent accents (and ages, and both sexes) impressively well. One of the main characters is from Liverpool, the secondary characters are varied and have accents from Scotland to the Southwest and points in between, and he manages all of them with expertise and precision. Sound quality and production values are high throughout.

Four and a half stars. It would be an excellent choice for public or home library acquisition, as well as a series binge or buddy read.

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

 

A Murder Most Camp

 

A Murder Most Camp is a b*tchy, campy, martini-fueled cozy mystery by Nicolas DiDomizio. Released 28th April 2026 by Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen Press imprint it's 368 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 throughout.

Utterly out of touch, spoiled nepo baby's father decides to "teach him a lesson about life" by giving him a directive to "do good" before his 30th birthday, or miss having unfettered access to his full inheritance. There's a very (very!) campy Scooby-Do vibe to the whole long-ago-cold-case disappearance, and in this case the "gang" of sidekicks are 12 year olds he's supposed to be engaging in learning activities. 

Lots of character development arcs here, very very weird dysfunctional family dynamics, and lots of fun poked at a spoiled out of touch rich gay queen thrust into lots of antithetical situations (timed showers! skincare routines disrupted! no dirty martinis by the pool! no pool!!)... The author seems incapable of passing up any stereotypical gay trope, but the whole is tongue in cheek (sometimes too much), but overall entertaining.

The mystery itself, isn't. The setup is so completely over-the-top outlandish and silly that readers will need a prodigious load of suspension of disbelief. The big twist/reveal at the climax and denouement won't be a huge surprise for most readers (but was moderately delicious anyhow). 

That being said, it -is- cute and entertaining. Props to the author for a nice bi-positive character representation; that's a bit of a unicorn in gay fiction. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 33 minutes and is capably read by Mark Sanderlin. He has a well modulated, professionally trained neutral East Coast US accent for the read, and does a decent job of delineating the multitude of disparate voices, female, male (very gay male, and straight), and children  (without making it too saccharine or awful). Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, or possibly a buddy read. Light content warnings for mild M/M spicy scenes. 

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

Hot Chocolate on Thursday - 木曜日にはココアを #1

 

Hot Chocolate on Thursday is a beautifully atmospheric slice-of-life vignettes by Michiko Aoyama. Originally released in 2017, this English language edition was released 17th Feb 2026 by HarperCollins on their Hanover Square Press imprint. It's 208 pages and will be 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. 

This is such a comforting, nostalgic, and sweetly uplifting collection of related stories. The translation work by E. Madison Shimoda is seamless and manages to flow very well in English without losing the indelible Japanese cultural nuances. 

The stories are related by a common thread: customers and friends who gravitate to a tiny cafe; their daily lives and the ways they touch one another's orbits are delicately and appealingly portrayed. Despite the lack of danger or dramatic tension, the stories are moving and told effectively. Food manga and food-centered narrative is a popular subgenre in Japan, and this is a wonderful collection. 

Four stars. Utterly charming. There are 2 books extant in the series, and the second book in English translation is due out from the same publisher in July 2026. It would be an excellent choice for public or home library acquisition or a nice binge/buddy/bookclub read. Highly recommended and very relaxing.

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

Murder on a Bus Tour - Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe #7

 

Murder on a Bus Tour is the 7th Lady Marjorie cozy mystery by Dawn Brookes. Released 28th August 2025 by Storm Publishing, it's 240 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The earlier books in the series are also currently available on KU. 

Lady Marjorie and her trio of pensioner friends are off on a fun bus tour to Cornwall. Their fellow travelers are varied and interesting. When one of them dies from a fall, it's up to the friends to get to the bottom of who their fellow travelers really -are- and what they might be hiding before tragedy strikes again. 

There are a number of classic golden age plots (Nemesis, Murder en Route, and a host of others) which are similar, but Ms. Brookes does a credible turn and this is a diverting, well written afternoon's reading. It's not derivative, but fans of Deanna Raybourn, Richard Osman, and Robert Thorogood will likely enjoy this series as well. There's a sharp, often sarcastic, humor and lots (lots!) of internal monologue from Marjorie which can be a bit off-putting, and the pacing is slow in places, but overall readable and enjoyable. 

Four stars. With 7 books extant, it would be an good choice for a long binge/buddy read. It works perfectly well as a standalone mystery without major spoilers for the earlier books in the series.

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

The Feather Wars: And the Great Crusade to Save America's Birds

 

The Feather Wars is a well written monograph on bird conservation, with a particular focus on American history, written by James McCommons. Released 17th March 2026 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 416 pages 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. 

This is both well written and layman accessible. The author has a solid, engaging, forthright style of writing and a logical process. The subject matter (despite the lens of passing years) is grim, full of hubris and arrogance. 

The book covers a large amount of time, more or less chronologically. The chapters are thematic, written around specific species (Ivory Billed woodpecker, passenger pigeon, wood duck, trumpeter swans, and dozens of other species which either became extinct, or nearly so, because of human driven causes). 

As stated, the book is copiously annotated and the chapter notes provide a wealth of further reading for readers wishing to deep dive in the material. There's also a collection of facsimile archival photos and documents from the time period, reproduced in color. 

I enjoyed this read immensely. I would heartily recommend it for lovers of science philosophy and conservation history, but maybe not so much for readers looking for "just the facts, Ma'am". This has been one of my better nonfiction reads for 2026. 

Four stars. 

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

 

Table 4 at The River Cafe: Conversations about Food and Life

 

Table 4 at The River Cafe is a collection of glossy edited interviews with very famous people about life and food by Ruthie Rogers. Released 17th March 2026 by Simon & Schuster on their Gallery Books imprint, it's 384 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.

This is an interesting glimpse into a rarefied world of privilege and material wealth which most of the world will never see. There aren't many recipes (there are a few), but it's not primarily a cookbook. What it does, and does pretty well, is to give that glimpse behind the curtain into the life and acquaintances of the author. In just one page of the introduction she mentions meeting/feeding/talking with and entertaining Mel Blank, Nina Raine, Judy Dench, Ralph Fiennes, and Ian McKellen. Uncharitably, it could be called cover-to-cover name dropping, but honestly, a lot of the interviews and conversations with luminaries manage to show a likeable humanity. It's not all gloss. 

It's possibly (probably) the editing process, but almost all of the entries were very much of a sameness. It's unclear if that's because they were made to sound processed and homogeneous, if she follows the same formula for all her interviews, or if being really really wealthy and REALLY famous (Victoria Beckham's in there as well as Paul McCartney, in fact, there are precious few who don't have honorifics like Sir, Lord, Lady, etc in their names) -knocks- the edges off and makes them the same. At the end of the day, they mostly sound alike. Not necessarily a bad thing, but interesting nonetheless. 

Privilege and celebrity. It's very well photographed throughout.

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, or for gift giving. 

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

 

All the Ice Cream in the Land

 

All the Ice Cream in the Land is an appealing humorous illustrated fairy tale written and illustrated by Emmy Kastner. Released 5th May 2026 by Simon & Schuster on their Young Reader imprint, it's 56 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Told in ever increasingly silly follow on situations, reminiscent (but not derivatively so) of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Princess Roselyn's loyal parents and subjects jump into ever increasing silliness to satisfy her "desire" for ice cream, without ever actually letting her express her own desires. 

It's cute, and well illustrated with lots of appealing small details which invite readers to take a closer look, and there are probably some good takeaways here about letting people express their wants/needs instead of jumping to anticipate them. Mostly it's just a really appealing, cute book for preschool to elementary school kids and their caregivers.

Four stars. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gifting. 

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

Mortedant's Peril - The Trials of Irody Hasp #1

 

Mortedant's Peril is a darkly engaging fantasy mystery series starter by R.J. Barker. Released 19th May 2026 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 432 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.

Well written and paced, with nicely thought out creepy world building, the author has done a good job of balancing the fantastic/bizarre against a system of tedious government bureaucracy complete with small minded petty rivalries and corrupt, self-serving middle managers. 

Into the whole, a huge political conspiracy including murder and violence. The author manages to balance the disparate threads (characters, city-state, technology, religion, day-to-day grind of paying the bills and putting food on the table) without any of them overpowering the others. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 16 hours, 10 minutes and is capably read by Joe Eyre. He has a well modulated emotionally expressive voice and does a very good job of rapid character voice shifts in the dialogue. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read.  

Four stars for both the print and audio versions. It would be a good choice for public or personal library acquisition, or possibly a buddy read. It's the first book in a series, but there's currently no release info for book 2. Light content warnings for violent death, racism/classism, and physical abuse. There's no sexual content, no romance, and no spice.  

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

Brick Stitch, Peyote, and Other Bead-Weaving Techniques

 

Brick Stitch, Peyote, and Other Bead-Weaving Techniques is a very well written and beginner accessible tutorial guide with projects by Lucie Fossemalle. Originally published in French in 2019, this English language translation reformat and re-release by Fox Chapel, released 24th Feb 2026. It's 80 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The book's intro includes very clear, well illustrated technique building, including basic instructions for brick, peyote, some metal/wire work, and loom weaving. The step-by-step illustrations are clear and simple enough that a beginner could learn them. The intro is followed by 11 appealing and varied project tutorials. Each tutorial includes color photos of the process as well as finished project photos. There's a list of tools and supplies and clear macro photos to help. 

Four and a half stars. It would be an excellent choice for public or school library, shared studio and makers spaces, activity groups, and for the home reference library as well. It could perhaps be a bit longer, but overall an excellent addition with really attractive projects.

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

Athens and Sparta: The Rivalry That Shaped Ancient Greece

 

Athens and Sparta is an exceptional layman-accessible monograph about the rivalry between the two city-states in ancient Greece written by Dr. Adrian Goldsworthy. Released 12th May 2026 by Hachette on their Basic Books imprint, it's 640 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.

It's not an exaggeration to say that ancient Greece shaped human civilization from the ancient world through the modern day. Fundamental concepts of society, democracy, personal responsibility, national identity, and culture have clear threads from the ancient world down to the modern. Dr. Goldsworthy does a good job of illustrating how those concepts and the rivalries profoundly shaped the ancient world and shaped the course of history. 

The book is sparsely, but well, illustrated throughout, with maps and facsimile documents. The author is an academic, and it shows in the meticulous annotations throughout. The chapter notes and bibliography alone are likely worth the price of the book. The language is layman accessible and readable throughout. 

Five stars. Very well written, in depth, and interesting. It would be a good choice for public or secondary school acquisition, as well as a solid reference for the home. 

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

Queen Esther

 

Queen Esther is the 16th sprawling epic narrative by John Irving. Released 4th November 2025 by Simon & Schuster, it's 432 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out in early November 2026 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

Irving is a titan of contemporary American fiction. Owen Meany, Cider House Rules, Garp, Hotel New Hampshire, all are classics, full of wit, whimsy, and a little wryly dark almost unhinged humor. This book doesn't perhaps do credit to his oeuvre, but still manages to have moments of clarity and wit. Unfortunately, for most of the book, it simply gets in its own way. Instead of reading about the titular Esther herself, we're sent haring off after her son and his coming of age. There are tantalizing glimpses of Esther throughout, but that's all they really amount to. 

Clearly, given his ability and undeniable narrative chops, this is an entirely conscious choice on the author's and publisher's part, but it's frustrating nevertheless. He deals well with the themes of Anti-Semitism, found family, grief, loss, and survival in a often very harsh world... The pacing is, however, glacial. 

Three stars, one for -die-hard- Irving fans. For readers new to his work, look to one of his better known books for an introduction, then maybe revisit this one later. 

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

The Hidden Staircase: Nancy Drew Mysteries Book 2: A Classic Girl Detective Haunted Mansion Mystery

 

The Hidden Staircase is the second Nancy Drew mystery in the perennial classic series by pseudonymous Carolyn Keene. Originally published in 1930, this revised and reformatted edition by Dover is due out 16th June 2026. It's 160 pages in this edition and will be available in paperback. 

This is a lovely revisit to a classic series for middle grade readers and generations of mystery lovers have gotten their introduction to the genre side-by-side with feisty intelligent Nancy Drew and her friends and family. Although written by a stable of contemporary authors, the publishers did a great job with the continuity and characterizations. 

Although it's the second book in the series, it works fine as a standalone. It's great to see these classic books repackaged for new generations of readers. Although aimed at middle grade readers, revisiting the story will be a lovely nostalgic trip for adults too. 

Five stars. Lovely walk down memory lane. The publisher has released the first book in the series, this, the second is due out mid-June, and presumably the rest will follow as and when they can (public domain). Additionally, the first two books are published as part of Dover's thrift line at a friendly price point (under $10 USD). 

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

 

G. K. Chesterton on Life: Encountering His Classic Wit and Wisdom for Today

 

G. K. Chesterton on Life is a collection of quotes and writing from Chesterton's oeuvre curated by Kevin Belmonte. Released 21st April 2026 by Harper Collins on their Thomas Nelson imprint,  it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Many of the quotes are very short, snippets really. There's no in-depth commentary, but the collection is arranged lovingly, thematically, around short chapters such as: faith, philosophy, nature, poetry, wit, etc. Each chapter has a number of quips/quotes/comments, and is sparsely illustrated with facsimile photos and illustrations. 

Although the material is not presented in any context, there are numerous takeaways for modern readers. It might be a good introduction to readers unfamiliar with GKC's work, or for die-hard fans to carry around for a quick bit of inspiration. It would also be a good choice for public library acquisition. 

Three and a half stars. 

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

 

A Very Merry Murder - Malvern Farm Mystery #6

 

A Very Merry Murder is the 6th Malvern Farm thriller(ish) mystery by Kate Wells. Released 3rd Sept. 2025 by Boldwood Books, it's 322 pages (ebook format) and is available in hardcover, 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also also currently available on KU. 

Jude is back at it again, this time when a popular national TV show is planning to film at Malvern farm. It's a testament to the author's command of character that all of the characters, including the secondaries are well delineated and three dimensional. Each is quite distinct from the others and readers won't have any trouble keeping them straight.

The author is also adept at setting, and the whole is effective and engaging. The mystery itself is well engineered and culminates in a satisfying and twisty way. The plotting is -excellent- and the mystery is very clever.

It's the sixth book in the series and although it works well enough as a standalone, the continuing characters' interrelationships develop throughout;  readers should expect some minor spoilers if read out of order.

Four stars. It's not at all derivative, but fans of Faith Martin, P.F. Ford, and J.R. Ellis will likely enjoy this one. With seven books extant in the series and an eighth out from the same publisher in third quarter 2026, it would be a good candidate for a binge/buddy read. The author seems to be on a semi-annual publishing release schedule, so there are books coming out regularly.

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

Buzz Books 2026: Fall/Winter

 

Buzz Books 2026: Fall/Winter. These semi-annual previews are available free for download from the Buzz Books website here (or Amazon here or B&N, or other retailers) and are invaluable for planning TBR lists, avoiding some books which the buzz has overhyped (or just don't fit with you personally), and one of my favorite uses, to stretch our boundaries.  I am guilty, I admit it, of walking straight toward my favorite sections of any bookstore.  I think the vast majority of us are guilty of the same... we have limited book budgets and time and want to stick with the tried-and-true authors who have traditionally delivered for us. When I find an enjoyable free way to maybe find a book which is a great fit for me without committing to a purchase first, it's a win-win.  I have found a number of debut authors this way who have gone on to become fast favorites.

These collections are a great way to get a free 'taste' sample from authors who might well otherwise fly under your radar entirely.

Aside from the generous chapter excerpts included in the book, there's always a publishing preview with notable upcoming releases along with author and publisher info.  I always find upcoming books from authors I love without having known they had an upcoming release.  Valuable timesaver for that reason alone.

Five stars; a valuable resource.

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

A Curious Kind of Magic

 

A Curious Kind of Magic is a standalone YA romantasy adventure by Mara Rutherford. Released 21st Oct 2025 by by Macmillan on their Wednesday Books imprint, it's 368 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.  For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a sweet and well written story with three young main appealing characters, each with responsibilities and challenges, trying to help one another and (as in real life) often getting in their own way in the process. The YA angst and hurt and misunderstandings are there of course, along with a solid adventure, lots of magical artifacts, found family, wishes, bereavement, and a curse. 

It's full of whimsy and adventure. The romantasy tropes (missed chances, enemies to lovers, second chances) are on full display. On the whole, a satisfying romp, with a good denouement and resolution. 

Four stars. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, for romantasy fans, or possibly as a buddy read. 

 

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

 

Strange Ways to Die in the Dark Ages

 

Strange Ways to Die in the Dark Ages (~420-1327 C.E.) is an interesting and layman accessible historical monograph by Emily Bush and Carrie Ingram-Gettins. Released 28th Feb 2026 by Pen & Sword History, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. Worldwide release outside the UK, 9th April 2026. 

Sometimes irreverent, there's a solid historical basis for the information contained and the authors manage to bridge the gap between dark humor and pathos quite well. They cover politically derived causes, natural causes (disease, pathogens, bad food/environmental causes), floods, starvation, accidents (so many unpleasant (and dumb) ways to die), executions,  wars, and more or less what readers would expect from the title and description.

The authors have also written a sister volume about the Tudor Era. Unlike that book, this one is more heavily annotated and the chapter notes make for a well rounded experience in the read as well as providing tantalizing ideas for further reading. This is definitely aimed at fans of the period who aren't academics themselves (at least not academically inclined -in the subject-). Professional historians will likely miss the rigor of more academic based research, peer review, annotations, or rigorous bibliographic info. It is lightly humorous and quite amusing, so gains some in that respect.

Four stars. This is an illuminating and interesting book of history and never dryly academic or boring. This would be a good selection for public library acquisition, home library, and for fans of history, culture, and the macabre. 

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

Just Another Dead Author - Berit Gardner #2

 

Just Another Dead Authoris a wryly humorous second outing for Berit and friends by Katarina Bivald. Released 12th Aug 2025 by Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen Press imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in hardcover, 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.

Writer and observer-of-life Berit is off to the French countryside to a retreat for writers, hoping for a quiet working holiday, when the awful keynote speaker drops dead at her literal feet. She's soon following her insatiable curiosity, trying to solve the murder and stay alive herself.  

The author's dry comedic timing is a wonder to behold, and the book is delightfully *full* of delightful bookish tie-ins and sly unforced bibliophile in-jokes which will bring smiles to lovers of books. 

The author/publisher has also included suggested discussion topics and questions for book clubs and personal analysis. It's not entirely clear from the publishing info provided, if this book was translated into English (the author is Swedish), but if so, the translation work is perfectly seamless and invisible. There are currently 5 works in the series (book 2.5 and 5 are currently only available in Swedish).  Book 3 is due out from the same publisher in late August 2026. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 11 hours 33 minutes and is masterfully read by Helen Lloyd. She has a perfect voice for the read, slightly gravelly and practical, and easily switches between numerous regional accents, from cut-crystal RP to a pretty credible regional mix, as well as MC Berit who is of mixed Swedish/English descent. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read, and the narrator is an absolute delight. 

Four stars for both print and audiobook. Highly recommended for public library acquisition, home use, and bookclub/buddy discussions.

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

 

The Keeper of Magical Things

 

The Keeper of Magical Things is a gently engaging and enjoyable cozy fantasy standalone by Julie Leong. Released 14th Oct 2025 by Penguin Random House/Berkley on their Ace imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in library binding, 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. 

This is a beautifully written story, full of unlikely heroes, found-family, humor, small adventures,  a cat-dragon, and a magical quest. It's pure comfort reading and escapist fantasy (and sorely needed right now with everything going on in the world). It felt like wrapping up in a warm duvet with a pot of tea. 

It's not derivative at all, but fans of Travis Baldree, Sarah Beth Durst,  and Rebecca Thorne will enjoy this one as well. It's full of secondary characters with their own intricate, well rendered stories, and the whole is a nice patchwork of small adventure vignettes. Warm and escapist enjoyment. 

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 10 hours 56 minutes and is capably read by Natalie Naudus. She has a warm and well modulated voice. Sound and production quality are very high throughout the read. 

The first book in the same world (but not precisely a prequel, there are different central characters, apparently), was released in Nov 2024 by the same publisher. 

Four and a half stars. A beautiful and enjoyable read.

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