Death and Dinuguan - Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #6

 

Death and Dinuguan is the 6th and final Tita Rosie's Kitchen cozy mystery by Mia P. Manasala. Released 25th Nov 2025 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 303 pages and is available in paperback, audiobook, 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 warmly enveloping cozy with a cast of close found family, friends, extended family, and lots of food-adjacent descriptions. Although it's not at all derivative (different families, different ethnicities, different situations and locations), the vibe is reminiscent of Vivien Chien's excellent Noodle Shop mysteries and fans of the latter will likely enjoy this one as well. 

There's a fairly huge cast of characters to keep track of, and although the author does provide back-history for most of them in this book, it can be a challenge to keep them straight. Since it's a long series, there will be spoilers for earlier events if read out of order. 

This is a foodie cozy in a foodie series, and as with most of the genre, the author has included some tasty Filipino recipes for readers to try out in the back of the book.

Four stars for fans of the genre. It would be a good choice for public or home library acquisition, or for a good binge/buddy read. 

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

The Hidden City - Charles Lenox Mysteries #12

 

 

The Hidden City is the 12th Charles Lenox historical mystery by Charles Finch. Released 4th Nov 2025 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in 4th quarter 2026. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. 

This is a very well written, civilized, erudite, and intelligent series with a refined and practical protagonist. This installment follows Charles as he recovers from a stabbing during his last case in America, as well as hosting a cousin (more of a niece and her companion) recently bereaved from India, more adventures for Lady Jane (who's supporting the suffragist movement), and a disturbing/mysterious letter from an old household servant with a cold case mystery to investigate. 

The characters are beautifully rendered, the dialogue is never clunky or distracting, and the clues and mystery progression follow the accepted rules of engagement. The resolution and denouement were satisfying and very well done. I'm enjoying the development of Lenox very much after his marriage and fatherhood - it adds an agreeable and believable fullness and depth to his character. Although it's the 12th book in the series, it works well as a standalone (with the codicil that some of the background and development spoil the earlier books in some minor details). 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours 8 minutes and is very capably read by series narrator James Langton. He has a well modulated professionally trained voice and does a wonderful job with a wide variety of regional accents, and characters across a spectrum of ages and both sexes. His RP upper class accent is happily a wonder to behold and not at all grating or nasal (yay). 

I recommend the series to fans of the genre. Four stars.12 books in, it would make a good choice for a long binge/buddy read as well as for public or home library acquisition. 

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

 

The Regicide Report - Laundry Files #14

 

The Regicide Report is the 14th and final book in the Laundry Files series by Charles Stross. Released 27th Jan 2026 by Tor, it's 336 pages and is available in hardback, 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.  

This is a Lovecraftian horror SF wrapped in biting social commentary on our current political dystopia. Stross is at his most acerbically sarcastic and if there's an author with more raw talent at fusing political satire with fantasy, they're few and far between. In a lot of ways, these books remind me of Joseph Heller (Catch-22) and there are some interesting parallels: farcical tragedy, theodicy (in fact, the Old Gods in charge are only marginally the lesser of the evils), as well as a subtle sense of impending doom no matter what the characters do or what their motivations. The dichotomy of real and creeping horror combined with literally laugh out loud humour is brilliant, and although clearly Stross has been quite fed up with the series for a while (it's been something like 25 years at this point), the final installment manages to be funny and engaging by turns. 

There are broadsides against nationalism, patriotism, universal government incompetence and malfeasance, gender relations, and humanoid society as a whole as well as threats to national security, elder gods and assassins running amok in the midst of everything else. There are somewhat loving jabs at fandom, Dr. Who, nerds in general, dweebs, geeks, and every other niche-obsession going. This story gives a more or less satisfying resolution to Bob and Mo's story and an off-ramp to retire the series on a good note. 

The language is rough, the violence graphic, the humour (mostly) bitingly sarcastic.

Four stars, well worth a read, but be prepared to check online resource notes/dramatis personae if attempted as a standalone. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition or home library. 

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

Just in Case: Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

 

Just in Case is a beautifully illustrated children's book about conservation and the mission of the Svalbard global seed vault written by Megan Clendenan. Released  14th Oct 2025 by Charlesbridge, it's 32 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

All the information included in this beautiful book is factual and presented in age-appropriate accessible text. The illustrations by Brittany Cicchese are in color and support the text very well. They show how the storage vaults look, how they operate, and gives some info about what kinds of seeds and genetic material is stored there (and why). 

Five stars. It would be an excellent choice for school or public library acquisition, home use, or gifting to a science interested young friend. 

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

Red City - The New Alchemists #1

 

Red City is the first book in a large scale political urban fantasy alt-earth series by Marie Lu. Released 14th Oct 2025 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 432 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher in first quarter 2027. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.  

This is a very well written book. The prose is luminous and the story is engaging. The author is very skilled, with a well built fantasy alt-Los Angeles setting, fully realized characters, and a solid mix of background world building and human emotional engagement. There's a star-crossed lovers subplot, but it doesn't overshadow everything.  

Lu writes sensitively and authentically about acculturation, identity, and belonging, and as with all worthwhile literature, there are a lot of deeper takeaways. The pacing is quite slow; deliberate would be a better descriptor, but it repays the effort. The first third of the book was particularly unhurried, but it picks up after that. 

Four stars. Beautifully written. Content warnings for sudden violence, sexual content, and family dysfunction. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, home library, or a buddy/book club selection. Book 2 in the series is due out 2nd quarter of 2027 from the same publisher.

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

A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Solving a Murder

 

A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Solving a Murder, although marketed as a paranormal cozy mystery is not really a cozy mystery and there's not really any paranormal action. It is a historical semi-spy-wartime thriller (lite). It's the first book in a series, by F. H. Petford. Released 2nd Oct. 2025 by Hachette on their Hodder & Stoughton imprint, it's 287 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.  For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series is not currently available with KU.

Set in 1914, the hotel setting allows for a self-contained plot with a cast of unrelated characters thrown together from a variety of backgrounds (and a variety of motivations). There's no sleuthing, no ghost hunting, and very little mystery. Readers who enjoy historical fiction which progresses at a stately pace, will find it enjoyable. The writing is more than capable and the author does a good job with the characterizations. There are a number of PoV switches which can be confusing when they happen mid chapter, but otherwise the story is well told and engaging. 

Three and a half stars. There are currently 2 books out in the series, with a 3rd due out in 1st quarter 2027 from the same publisher. Book 1 is available with a kindle unlimited subscription, the other 2 are not. It would possibly make a nice binge or buddy read, with the codicil that there's no paranormal element or mystery investigation.

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

The Faraway Inn

 

The Faraway Inn is a sweetly engaging YA fantasy standalone story by Sarah Beth Durst. Released 31st March 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Delacorte Press imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in paperback, library binding, 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.

The author is quite adept at writing cozy-vibe romantasy (see backlist books). This one is marketed for the YA market, and does a good job of being warmly engaging. That being said, (especially since it's a YA book) there are a few problematic points. The 16 year old MC is getting over a traumatic breakup (her bf was unfaithful) and goes to her aunt's bed-and-breakfast to recharge and rebalance, where she immediately falls into a rebound relationship with Jack, the groundskeeper's son. Her aunt (the "responsible" adult) -disappears- and she keeps it secret for -weeks-. Some of the secondary characters are more or less sketched in and not at all three dimensional. 

On the other hand, it's escapist fantasy fun. The author does a good job with setting and the dialogue is solid. It would make an excellent vacation or holiday break read, but might not be the best choice for resource professionals (librarians, media resource) to recommend for teen girls. 

Four stars. It would also make a good buddy read for fans of the genre. 

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

Murder at the Wild Haggis Bookshop - The Highland Bookshop Murders #1

 

Murder at the Wild Haggis Bookshop is a Scottish cozy shopfront mystery and the first book in the series by Jackie Baldwin. Released on 8th Oct 2025 by Storm publishing, it's 250 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series is also currently available on KU.

For readers who love small-town cozies, historical mysteries, and light UK crime fiction, this one ticks a lot of boxes. It's capably written with an intelligent and appealing bookstore owner drawn into a murder which occurred after a book club evening in her shop. 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. 

Four stars. This is an enjoyable bookshop cozy. Fans of the genre will find a lot to like here. The second book is out and it's a continuing series. It would make a good short binge/buddy read. 

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

 

Death in the Aviary - The Charlotte Blood Chronicles #1

 

Death in the Aviary is the first in a locked room cozy historical mystery series by Victoria Dowd. Released 9th Sept 2025 by Datura Books, it's 400 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. 

This is a lovely golden age homage/pastiche, not derivative, and well written, clever, as well as engaging to read. The author does a fine job of constructing the fair-play puzzle and the clues are well engineered and the whole comes together very well. More of a Dorothy Sayers or Dame Ngaio Marsh vibe than Christie-esque, it's nevertheless solid. 

The standard setup: an heir shot in a closed and moving elevator; all of the occupants had a strong motive. The female protagonist (who comes into the story a year after the murder) is quirky and complex, having been widowed just after the first war. The setting is suitably bleak, an isolated stately manor on a windswept moor. 

The pacing structure is uneven, much of the book drags. There are extraneous asides (with some semi-magical/paranormal aspects) that felt tacked on and unnecessary. The characterizations are varied, with some of the secondary characters more sketched in than fully realized. The whole does resolve into a generally satisfying denouement and resolution, setting up the next installment. 

Four stars. Engaging and well-done overall.

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

 

Dark Horse - Sid Halley #7

 

Dark Horseis the 7th mystery featuring Sid Halley, written by Felix Francis around characters originated by his late father, Dick Francis. Released 23rd Sept 2025 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

There are only a handful of series, however well written, which keep readers coming back for more year after year. The Dick Francis books are wonderful, highly consistent and satisfying reads. They're well constructed mysteries with a touch of humour, and they can generally be picked up and read in any order, as standalones. After the death of the elder Francis, his protege and youngest son Felix took over primary writing duties and continued the legacy with respectable verisimilitude. 

The language is relatively clean with the occasional 'damn / bloody' or similar' but nothing worse. These books are always worthwhile and a treat to be savored. Spelling and vernacular are UK English, but shouldn't pose any problems in context for readers from North America. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours 16 minutes and is capably read by series narrator Martin Jarvis, along with Anna Burnett. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Four and a half stars. It's always a bit of a gamble when other writers take over long established series, but in this case, they're a pleasure to read, and a safe bet. 

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

 

Campfire Crafts: 70+ Screen-Free Outdoor Projects for Kids and Families

 

Campfire Crafts is a well-curated collection of kid-friendly camping recipes and crafts written by Anna-Marie & Andrew Fahmy. Released 21st April 2026 by Fox Chapel, it's 144 pages and is available in paperback/softcover and ebook formats. 

The project tutorials are appealing, most use found/foraged materials, and there's a common theme of nature and outdoors. They're do-able and accessible for a wide range of ages and abilities. Many will be familiar to readers who were ever part of a summer camp crafts class, but there are enough new ideas to make it a worthwhile acquisition for classroom groups and activities coordinators as well as for the home library. 

Tutorials include lots of step-by-step pictures and clear process instructions. The projects can all be completed without a lot of expensive extra materials. 

Four and a half stars. There are at least a couple dozen projects, (probably closer to 30+) and it's nice to have them collected in one handy location. 

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

Empire Without End: A New History of Britain and the Caribbean

 

Empire Without End: A New History of Britain and the Caribbean is a thoughtfully prepared new examination of the role of Britain in the Caribbean by Dr. Imaobong Umoren. Released 21st October 2025 by Simon & Schuster on their Scribner imprint, it's 512 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 and references throughout.  

This is a comprehensive book, spanning centuries, and is weighty in both content and insight. The author is an historian writing in her chosen field of expertise. Although academic in scope and evidence, it's written in accessible language which enlightens and doesn't bog readers down with unnecessarily convoluted prose. Most histories seem to concentrate on the influence *from* the British Isles *to* the colonisation of the Caribbean. This author has done quite a convincing job of showing the influence as well of the Caribbean on Britain, indelibly down to the current era. 

It's not always easy to read, though the author maintains an impressively balanced factual manner throughout and even manages to leave readers with some interestingly hopeful conclusions. 

The book is sparsely illustrated with facsimile historical/archival documents. It's meticulously annotated throughout and the chapter notes and references are probably worth the price of the book on their own merits alone, aside from Dr. Umoren's insightful and well reasoned arguments. 

Five stars. It's very difficult to imagine how it could've been improved on. A thoughtful read will take a significant amount of effort and time on the reader's part. It would be an excellent choice for public or post-secondary school library acquisition, for readers of history, as well as a support text for related classroom study or study groups. 

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

Where the Tea Still Steeps - Quiet Elsewhere #1

 

Where the Tea Still Steeps is a quirky fantasy with a dreamlike vibe by Rachel Ann Hubert. Released 30th June 2026, it's 306 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 throughout.  For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

Although not derivative, there's a real Howl's Moving Castle/Ghibli homage feeling in this romantasy. It's full of longing and love, oddly disquieting scenes, along with a sentient tea-house, cursed immortals, and a displaced human who stumbles into the story without knowing why she's there or how to get out of the weird place she's found herself.

The prose is engagingly simple, but not at all straightforward. There's a meandering rhythm to the narrative. Although it would otherwise be appropriate for younger readers, there are moderately explicit (consensual) scenes which would definitely not be safe for youngsters or public reading. There are also frank discussions of trauma, healing, loss, and mental health. 

Four stars. It would be good for public library acquisition, home library, or possibly a buddy read (?). 

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

Bound to be Beautiful: Over 20 Bookbinding Projects that Inspire and Delight

 

Bound to be Beautiful is a bookbinding tutorial and style guide with projects by Bari Zaki. Released 16th June 2026 by Bloomsbury on their Herbert Press imprint, it's 208 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a beautifully photographed and accessible course on bookbinding including techniques, supplies (what to acquire and where to source them), some history of the art, and a supportive and encouraging style of instruction. The introduction includes numerous good tips about how to get started, what bookbinding and paper art can look like, and what tools are particularly useful, and how to use and maintain them. 

Particularly appreciated, the author isn't trying to sell readers anything, all brands are figleafed, and there's absolutely no sense of pressure to acquire lots of unnecessary gear. In fact, she states early on that apart from the absolute necessities, readers should wait and see what they need and will use, before going all-in on expensive potentially unnecesary kit. 

Each of the tutorial projects are written with a bullet list of project supplies, alternatives/adaptations/individual inspiration, and followed by numerous clear step by step instructions and many (many) clear color photos. The projects are appealing and showcase a number of classic-to-contemporary styles of books, journals, writing utensils, and storage ideas. 

Five stars. It would be entirely possible to produce a complete book or other project using only the instructions included in this volume. It would be an excellent choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, home studio, shared studio spaces, or group instruction. 

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

Claw Quest - The Cat Prophecies #1

 

Claw Quest is the first book in a middle grade reader fantasy series by Nik Korpon & Jorge Enrique Paz. Released 9th June 2026 by Penguin Random House on their Labyrinth Road imprint, it's 336 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.

This is an engaging, exciting, and well written fantasy adventure story with believable kids, their real inner lives, and their guardians/companions who are cat shaped, trying to avoid bullies, deal with homework, and save the world. 

The authors do a very good job of making the cats and "their" kids appealing, but not too perfect, believable, but not whiny, and vulnerable, but still brave and capable. They're all dealing with issues in their personal lives, they all have challenges (like everyone does), and still manage to find time to help save our world from the forces of darkness.

The story touches on the breakup of families, parents living far away, bullying, and other real-life stuff lots of kids deal with, without being preachy or depressing. 

The story is set in Colombia, and the authors render the settings and characters believably and with heart. The text is peppered with Spanish phrases and Colombian cultural references, which are easy to understand in context. 

Four and a half stars. This would be an excellent public or school library acquisition, as well as for home reading. 

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

Spellbound by Murder: A Mystic Hollow Bookshop Mystery #1

 

Spellbound by Murder is the first book in a new light cozy paranormal mystery series by Stacie Ramey. Released 10th March 2026 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 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 and references throughout.

This is a very light small-town shopfront cozy, with three generations of paranormally gifted women in the same family (great grandmother + mother/daughter duo) running a bookshop and casting the occasional spell. There's lots of snark and rapid fire dialogue, and an untimely death at a literary festival in their small town with which they're involved. It's a Gilmore Girls pastiche which doesn't really get airborne, when combined with the cozy murder mystery plot. 

In the plus column, it's bloodless and clean as far as violence; there's a murder in the first few chapters, but it's purely plot device and the victim barely shows up before his untimely exit. Readers should bring a prodigious suspension of disbelief. 

Three stars, edging toward 3.5. It would possibly be a good choice for a very light binge/buddy read. Currently no publicly available info on the next book(s) in the series. 

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

 

The Murder Game: Play, Puzzles and the Golden Age

 

The Murder Game: Play, Puzzles and the Golden Age is an exhaustive, encyclopedic monograph of detective/crime fiction and all the subgenre curated by Dr. John Curran. Released 27th Jan 2026 by HarperCollins on their Crime Club imprint, it's 480 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 throughout, particularly valuable for a book which is extensively annotated.

The author is a prodigious resource, full of information about the history and genesis of crime fiction from the very beginning of the narrative mystery story. He is appealingly meticulous, building a solid basis for his timelines, with lots of examples and some interesting asides. This is, primarily, a nonfiction resource, and should find a home in the collections of libraries and fans of mystery fiction. Despite being meticulously annotated, and given that the author is an academic, it's surprisingly, robustly, warm, accessible, and entertaining. 

The author manages to balance lots (and LOTS) of factual historical information with an inviting and entertaining style of writing. It can be enjoyed cover to cover, but as a historical resource, readers would be well advised to read with a notebook to hand to jot down the hundreds (thousands?) of enticing lesser known mysteries to add to an ever burgeoning ToBeRead list. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 13 hours 20 minutes and is capably read by the author himself. He has a warm, professionally cultured speaking voice, undoubtedly a product of an upper class education, but appealingly, never losing the imprint of his Irish background. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read. 

The annotations, chapter notes, and bibliography are likely worth the price of admission alone. This is a seminal work. Highly recommended for public or post-secondary school library acquisition, as well as the for the home reference library. 

Five stars. It's difficult to imagine how it could've been done better, with the understanding that this volume concentrates on mysteries written (and read) in the English language, and doesn't cover, for example, more modern Scandi-noir in any detail at all.  

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

The Baby Farm Murderer

 

 

The Baby Farm Murderer is a true-crime historical saga written by knowledgeable and enthusiastic Victorian crime author Stephen Jakobi. Released 31st March 2026 by Pen & Sword on their True Crime imprint, it's 208 pages and is available in paperback format. 

This is an involved and somewhat intricate true-crime case concerning the reprehensible Victorian practice of "baby farming", buying babies and placing/selling them for profit. Although hideous enough, the subject of this monograph, Amelia Dyer, was also a prolific serial murderer, dispatching many infants in her care. Despite being a sensational and lurid tale, the author does a very good and (mostly) balanced job of presenting the facts of the case without exploiting the more horrific aspects.  

The text is meticulously annotated and written in accessible and easy to understand language. The chapter notes and bibliography will provide hours of further reading for students of true-crime history. The text is enhanced with appendices which contain historical and modern photos of the environs and some of the sites where the murder and later trials occurred as well as facsimile documents. There are happily no lurid crime scene photographs. Not only was Mrs. Dyer herself involved in the trade of human infants for decades, but she recruited many others into the business, including her relatives. 

Four stars. Well written and absorbing, but terribly sad. Recommended for readers of true crime history. Be warned that sensitive readers will find some of the more unflinching descriptions and realities hard going. It would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition, as well as possibly for a history book club study.

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

 

The High Tide Murder

 

The High Tide Murder is the sixth Shell House cozy mystery by Emylia Hall. Released 4th Nov 2025 by Amazon on their Thomas & Mercer imprint, it's 400 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book (and the others in the series) are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a fun and engaging series. The characters, including main protagonist, widow Ally Bright, are rendered believably and the author gives readers realistic and natural dialogue and interaction throughout. This installment sees MC Ally and (non-romantic) partner Jayden investigating a sudden death at a hotel which may have ties to a decades old cold case. This book is a bit of a destination mystery, set in a posh hotel resort, and features main characters outside their usual settings. The plot is well engineered and the clues are fair play and cleverly presented. 

Although not as adept as the inimitable Ann Cleeves' Vera books, fans of the latter will find a lot to enjoy with this series. The settings (the Cornish coast and Northumberland respectively) feature prominently in both, and both authors have a virtuoso command of description and setting.

Four stars. It continues to develop and go from strength to strength.  It would make a good choice for public library acquisition, home reading, and gifting. With 7 books extant, and an eighth due out 4th quarter 2026, it would be a good candidate for a long binge or buddy read. Although it works very well as a standalone, readers should be aware it's a continuing series and be prepared for small spoilers if read out of order.

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

 

 

The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic & Murder - The Hemlock Saga #1

 

The Hearth Witch's Guide to Magic & Murder is a fun urban(ish) fantasy mystery with some neat Holmes (and Watson(ish)) pastiches by Kiri Callaghan. Released 7th Oct 2025 by Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen Press imprint, it's 448 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.

The pacing is sedate, and the murder mystery plot gets lost in the world building, which is detailed and very well done. The author teases a F/F (demi-fae/human) romance but it's lukewarm (and no spice, if that's what readers are after). It's the first book in a series, book 2 is due out Oct 2026, so much of the slow pacing is probably background and world building. 

One feature of the book which will either appeal or drive readers to distraction, are the multitudinous footnotes and asides the book is absolutely loaded with. More or less every page has an additional hyperlinked comment. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 15 hours, 51 minutes and is narrated by an ensemble cast which includes the author. It's not clear how the hyperlinks, asides, and footnotes are handled during the read, but that could definitely be a factor in readers' enjoyment of the audio format. 

Three and a half stars. Readers who aren't huge Holmes/Watson/Mrs.Hudson fans will be ok with the setup and execution. Rabid Conan Doyle fans will likely be frothing at the mouth. The Holmes pastiche is not a huge part of the book. 

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