The Secret in the Wall (Silver Rush #8)

The Secret in the Wall is the 8th Silver Rush cozy mystery by Ann Parker. Released 15th Feb 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 400 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 solidly plotted, character driven historical cozy set in San Francisco in the late 19th century. Main protagonist Inez Stannart is a financial partner in a boarding house venture when renovations on the house uncover a skeleton and a fortune in gold coins hidden in a wall. There are soon murders, mistaken identities, betrayals, theft, spies, and more skullduggery piling on top of the mysterious skeleton in the wall.  The buildup and resolution/denouement were a bit more sombre than is usual for cozy mysteries, but still well done and satisfying. 

There is no very explicit on page content. The language is slightly salty, especially for the time period and the fact that this is a historical cozy. One of the murders is quite gory, but the violence occurs off-page and is not written objectionably. Despite being the 8th book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone self-contained mystery. The author is adept at giving necessary back-story without info dumping or spoon feeding readers. 

Four stars. Engaging and worth a look for fans of historical cozies. 

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

Jim Hanvey, Detective (Jim Hanvey #1 Short stories)

Jim Hanvey, Detective is an engaging collection of early detective fiction by Octavus Roy Cohen which is also the first entry in the Library of Congress Crime Classics. Originally published 1922-1923, it contains 7 self contained stories, additional material, and commentary. This edition was released 10th Aug 2021 by Poison Pen Press. It's 256 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 lighter version of the typical solo investigator detective fiction of the period. In a lot of ways, Cohen's detective reminds me of Peter Falk's Columbo; he's a slow speaking, bumbling guy, with an apparently dull intellect which he uses to disarm and catch out wrongdoers. He loves sappy romance films (and cries in the theater at the sad bits), smokes horrible stinky cigars, and associates with known criminals for information gathering purposes.

The language is a bit dated and the dialogue can be a bit stilted in places; it's definitely a product of the time period. That being said however, these are well constructed and entertaining mysteries and are entertaining in their own right as well as being important in historical context. 

The book includes a fair bit of additional background information including a short bio of the author and his place in contemporary American crime fiction. The editors/publishers have included book club discussion question prompts and a short bibliography for further reading.

Four stars. It's nice to see lesser known gems from 19th and 20th century crime fiction being relased to a new generation of readers. Despite having read the genre and period extensively, Cohen was an author previously unfamiliar to me.

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

Nature Garden: Create your own green space with this expert gardening guide (Collins Gardening)

Create Your Own Nature Garden is one of a set of accessible gardening guides by Joe Swift covering a range of gardening topics. Due out 3rd March 2022 from Collins Reference, it's 224 pages and will be available in ebook format. 

This is a well written garden tutorial and inspiration book for gardeners who are looking at supporting indigenous flora and fauna and incorporating more naturalistic garden design as inspiration. The author does a really good job of highlighting specific potential problems and providing creative solutions. The information is written in clear and concise blocks with special tips written directly on the photo illustrations. The photography is clear, well done, plentiful, and rendered in colour throughout the book.

The chapters are arranged thematically around specific elements: layouts, wildlife needs, wildlife corridors, ponds, birds, insects, amphibians, mammals, and a lot more. The second part of the book contains a good listing of plants, shrubs, trees, bulbs, and perennials for every purpose. Many of them are chosen for their size or suitability/toughness, as well as their contributions/attractiveness to wildlife. Plant listings contain the botanical (Latin) nomenclature as well as common name, a description, and colour photos showing foliage and flowers (if applicable).

The book's terminology and climate information are based on UK English, although most of the information is certainly applicable to gardeners outside the British Islands. 

Five stars. This would be a good choice for public and school libraries, gardening groups, community/allotment gardens, suburban gardeners, homeowners, etc. As a set, the books collectively cover most every subject the home gardener would ever need.

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

Chef's Kiss

Chef's Kiss is a sweetly humorous slice-of-life NA graphic novel based around the everyday life of 20something Ben Cook written by Jarrett Melendez. Due out 1st March 2022 from Oni Press, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook (comiXology) formats. 

This is such a sweetly romantic book. Being a middle aged curmudgeon, I'm usually not such a fan of NA romance titles since I'm a few decades outside of the target audience, but this one was exceptionally good. Protagonist Ben is shy and just beginning to find his way after university and is living in a houseshare with his 3 friends. Despite applying for lots of jobs in his field, he's had a fruitless few weeks on the job front when he stumbles into a job training in a local upscale vegetarian restaurant. It doesn't hurt that there's a cute chef working in the same kitchen. 

The character driven plot arc includes a seriously irascible head chef, an ensemble cast of coworkers and friends, and an adorable (actual) pig called Watson. The plotting is tight, and the dialogue is very well done and believable. The pencils, inking, and lettering are clear and precise. It's easy to read and well done all around. 

This will absolutely appeal to fans of light romantic manga and NA graphic novel romance. There is no explicit content whatever. 

Four and a half stars. 

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

Churro and the Magician

Churro and the Magician is a sweetly whimsical illustrated story for the youngest readers by Gastón Caba. Released 15th Feb 2022 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on their Clarion imprint, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook (comiXology) formats. 

This is a nice wordless fully illustrated story in panels of a young bunny who is a huge fan of magic and who unexpectedly finds himself in possession of a real magician's wand. General shapes, clouds, trains, light posts, and more come to life with unexpected results when he waves the wand around. There is no text in the story, so it would be a good choice for the very youngest: babies up through early reading years. It would be great for story time or bedtime reading. The people in the story are anthropomorphized bunnies and are drawn interacting with their world and suddenly real magic with predictable confusion and alarm. 

The art is simple and easy to understand. I like how the artist/author uses the outline shapes of things to show the similarity to living things; a light post becomes the neck and head of a dinosaur, a train with lots of train cars turns into a caterpillar, etc. This could be used with youngsters in so many ways to tie into observation and art exercises in a home or classroom setting.

Lots of fun for the youngest. 

Four stars.

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

Death at the Gates (Epiphany Bloom #3)

Death at the Gates is the third book in Katie Gayle's cozy mystery series featuring Epiphany Bloom. Released 2nd Aug 2021, it's 250 pages and 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

Pip and Most (of a cat, her 3 legged sidekick), are back righting wrongs, doing good deeds, and generally sticking their oars in where the bad guys wish they'd refrain. After a disastrous museum opening night fiasco sees her sacked from her job (the scene left me laughing out loud), she is soon drawn into investigating an exam cheating scandal at an upscale girls' school. Skulduggery abounds and it's not long before she's up to her neck in chaos and danger.

This is an engaging madcap comedy of errors with a fundamentally good-hearted and intelligent heroine who's only trying to solve the mystery and make her rent to keep a roof over her (and her three-legged cat's) head(s). The plotting and pacing are breakneck and this is one which readers can devour in a sitting or two. The dialogue is occasionally a bit twee, but all in all it's a fun ride with a satisfying denouement. 

The language is firmly PG (with hell, damn, bloody, shite, etc". There is no graphic on-page content. Spelling and vernacular are UK standard (bin, lorry, torch, kerb, etc). It shouldn't pose any problems in context for readers. This has become a very light cozy series favourite for me and I find myself looking forward to seeing what comes next for Pip & Most (of a cat). Real humour isn't easy to write and this author duo really has the timing and repartee down pat.

Four stars. Very fun.

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

A Deadly Bone to Pick (Molly Madison #1)

A Deadly Bone to Pick is the first book in a new cozy series by Peggy Rothschild. Released 22nd Feb 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley Prime Crime imprint, it's 304 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.

This is a very promising beginning to a new small-town cozy series with a widowed ex-cop female protagonist who has moved from New England to the west cost to make a new start. Having traumatically lost her husband, she's unprepared to be drawn into another murder when a neighbor's dog she's helping to train finds a dismembered hand on the beach. It's a bit trope-y in some ways, for example there's the requisite completely unprofessionally antagonistic local misogynistic law enforcement officer harassing her and trying to frame her for some involvement (boo, hiss), but overall I really liked Ms. Rothschild's facility with characterization and plotting. The dialogue is generally good and it's a fast, easy read. I was especially impressed with the way the author handled introducing protagonist Molly's back story and her move to the opposite coast of the USA.

The plot threads are spun out well and the denouement and resolution are satisfying if a tiny bit predictable. The author did a good job of fleshing out the secondary characters as well. They're three-dimensional and believable, even the antagonistic jerk cop (boo, hiss). One of the secondary but pivotal characters is a precocious 8 year old who was one of the stars of the book for me. Dog lovers will find a lot to enjoy here and it's clear the author is either gifted at background research or very familiar with dog training and agility. 

The language is mild (a few "damns" and nothing worse), and there's no explicit content, gore, or violence. There's the merest whiff of romance, but nothing even remotely stated in this book. (Possible future romantic interest from the "good" cop partner of the "bad cop"(boo, hiss)). 

Four and a half stars. This is top shelf cozy mystery. Highly recommended. 

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

Small Garden: Create your own green space with this expert gardening guide (Collins Gardening)

Create Your Own Small Garden is one of a set of accessible gardening guides by Joe Swift covering a range of gardening topics. Due out 3rd March 2022 from Collins Reference, it's 224 pages and will be available in ebook format. 

This is a well written garden tutorial and inspiration book aimed specifically at designing and gardening effectively within the constraints of working with limited space. The author does a really good job of highlighting specific potential problem areas and providing creative solutions. The information is written in clear and concise blocks with special tips written directly on the photo illustrations.

The chapters are arranged thematically around specific design elements: surfaces, boundaries, creating privacy, storage, raised beds, container gardening, roofs and balconies, and a lot more. The second part of the book contains a good listing of plants, shrubs, trees, bulbs, and perennials for every purpose. Many of them are chosen for their limited size or suitability/toughness vs. urban or less than ideal situations. Plant listings contain the botanical (Latin) nomenclature as well as common name, a description, and colour photos showing foliage and flowers (if applicable).

The book's terminology and climate information are based on UK English, although most of the information is certainly applicable to gardeners outside the British Islands. 

Five stars. This would be a good choice for public and school libraries, gardening groups, community/allotment gardens, suburban gardeners, homeowners, etc.

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

Knit 2 Socks in 1: The Easiest Method Ever for Knitting Two Socks at Once

Knit 2 Socks in 1 is a fun technique guide with tutorials and patterns for hand-knit socks 2 in one written by Safiyyah Talley. Due out 1st March 2022 from Storey, it's 152 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

I have been knitting for decades. In fact, my paternal grandmother taught me to knit back when circular needles were still relatively rare. When I learned to knit socks (and other small circumference knits in the round), my go-to technique involved double pointed "sock" needles. Not too many years ago, a colleague taught me magic loop and I started knitting 2 socks (or sleeves) at a time - because, as the author wisely points out, lots of people lose the impulse between knitting the first sock and finishing the second one. She jokes, but I actually have misplaced a sock and couldn't find it when I was finishing the second sock in the pair. I'm also really bad about buying yarn for a project and then misplacing the pattern before I get started.

This is a completely new-to-me and innovative technique which really could be a game changer for some knitters. The basic premise involves knitting one long tube, starting with the ribbing on sock one, using waste yarn to mark out the live stitches for an afterthought heel, continuing on for the foot, waste yarn carrier where the toe decreases are going to start on sock one.. continuing in the same order down the leg of sock two, marking waste yarn carrier for the heel on sock two, through the foot, and finishing the toe decreases of sock 2. 

The basic techniques are easy to understand and the tutorials are accompanied by crisp, clear, color photos without any hands or other objects in the way of the camera. The author shows the technique on a wide variety of yarn types and in a bunch of different sizes, from baby socks to adult sized super thick slipper socks. 

The introduction contains a good basic primer on yarn weight, tools, and supplies, but contains no tutorial for learning basic knitting, so absolute beginners will need to find a tutorial or knitting mentor to help out (I recommend knitting buddies, they're awesome). Throughout the text, she's included useful tables and charts to help readers DIY their own patterns and customize different details. In fact, she describes the process like one of those choose-your-own adventure books which I absolutely devoured at a frightening rate when I was a kid. It's a good analogy.

I enjoyed the chatty conversational writing and the encouraging "vibe" of the whole book. I don't want to overemphasize, but I also appreciated the fact that the author is a woman of color and representation is so important. She's a talented teacher, innovator, and designer as well, and that's probably more salient, but it's nice to see someone who doesn't necessarily look like me (middle aged white gal) bringing her perspective to the table. I'd love to take a class or workshop someday from Ms. Talley. 

Four and a half stars. Most of the terms are in American English. There's a retailer list at the back of the book with links to suppliers, most in North America along with a short general knitting abbreviations chart.

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

Fatal Family Ties (Ancestry Detective #3)

Fatal Family Ties is a historical cozy mystery and the third book in the series by S. C. Perkins. Released 20th July 2021 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written southern cozy with an intelligent relatable female protagonist who's a professional genealogist, trying to sort out a former coworker's ancestor's Civil War history; was he a virtuous man who fought for civil rights for his employees and supported the rights of women and minorities, or was he a Civil War deserter who defrauded others and whose life story was an elaborate lie? The plotting is engaging (if slightly overdeveloped in places) and I found the characterizations believable and appealing. 

There are some descriptions of genealogy and research methods which I found interesting, and the plot threads move forward to a satisfying denouement and resolution. Although the main focus is the Civil War mystery and the intricate family interrelationships, there is also a strong subplot involving protagonist Lucy and her FBI agent boyfriend Ben. The language is clean (a few damns and nothing worse) and there's no on-page graphic violence. Although it's the third book in the series, it works fine as a standalone.

Four stars. An enjoyable cozy in a well written series. Worth a look for fans of librarian, research, and historical type cozies.

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

The Modern Caravan: Stories of Love, Beauty, and Adventure on the Open Road

The Modern Caravan is a wonderfully romanticized look at campers and life on the road collected and curated by Kate Oliver. Due out 1st March 2022 from Chronicle Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

This is one of those gorgeous glossy hardcover books full of full-color inspiration and dedicated to the romance of a life of adventure on the road which has struck all of us at one point or another. There's a lot of intimacy in the author's honest and unvarnished account of her family's acquisition and remodeling of their first airstream camper from the beginning on a very limited budget, learning as they went along how to strip and rebuild whilst still maintaining an aesthetic restoration to wind up with a functional product at the end. 

She's chosen to showcase 13 different profile stories with in-depth photos and background for each of the projects. This is, certainly, a love poem to the durability and iconic nature of the classic aistream camper, but additionally it's a really gorgeous book of instagram-worthy interior shots which are full of wonderful interior details and which reflect the individual personalities of their owners. There are some which are restful and calm, some which are exuberantly colorful, some which are whimsical with a wry humor and warm and inviting vibe. In between the larger profile chapters are little one page snapshot pages with abbreviated background stories and a picture of the people involved. Their stories are as varied as their projects.

I enjoyed getting a look at the stories behind the builds. It should be noted that this is not a tutorial or how-to book. This is a collection of stories of people who chose to travel part time or full time in a camper (there are a couple van rebuilds also, but only in the shorter snapshot entries). The profiles are diverse, representing singles, couples, families, and friends who collaborated on projects and enjoy traveling alone or together.

Four stars. Lots of inspiration here.

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

Tyranny from Plato to Trump: Fools, Sycophants, and Citizens

Tyranny from Plato to Trump: Fools, Sycophants, and Citizens is an expository survey of the historical, social and theological impacts of tyranny and suppression written by Dr. Andrew Fiala. Due out 1st March 2022 from Rowman & Littlefield, it's 256 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a layman accessible but meticulously annotated examination of tyranny, drawing parallels from Plato's time (fourth century BCE) down through history to the Trump era. The author is a philosopher and lecturer and it's clear from the first sentence onward that he is not a "very fine people on both sides" kind of guy. This is not a dispassionate obstinately neutral factual examination of the concept of tyranny. It is an eloquently and logically built exposition on how to fight tyranny and recognize it in its nascent stages without having to radically excise it at a dangerously late stage of metastasis.

The author writes well and eloquently about the interrelationships between philosophy, human nature, theology, and how tyranny can generally be averted or defeated by the virtues of wisdom and reason (and how those often seem to be sorely lacking in time periods which are marked by extreme partisanship and divisiveness). He builds up a cogent logical argument step-by-step and brick by brick. I worry that the people who *agree* with his philosophy will be the only ones who read this book. The ones who think Trump was a swell guy and got robbed in 2020 will slam it shut enraged after the first paragraph and read no further.

Even the most cursory examination of my online background will show that I'm dead center in his "demographic group": fully educated healthcare professional, somewhere politically left of Senator Bernie Sanders, bewailing the downward death spiral of public education and the lack of single payer healthcare in the USA. I heartily agree with everything Dr. Fiala has said in this book and see it as painfully obvious truth. In other words, I'm what Trump supporters disparage as "elitist" and refuse to engage. I'm the choir to whom Dr. Fiala is preaching. The sad thing is that the people who need to find and cultivate reason and objectivity are the very ones who will read the first pages of the preface and slam the book shut in outrage.

Five stars. I hope it gets a lot of traction, because we desperately need to stave off the emboldened and enraged fury of the alt-right worldwide. I fear that the people who need to read it won't ever see it.

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

 

Cottagecore Galore: A Timeless Coloring Book

Cottagecore Galore is a detailed coloring book with a cottage/country/homey feel drawn by Katie Vaz. Due out 19th April from Andrews McMeel, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format. 

This is an appealing collection of black and white line drawings which invite the reader to take time enjoying coloring and making them their own with color choices and details left entirely up to each individual taste. There's a short introduction from the author, but otherwise no text included in the drawings. 

The whole vibe is "country", with lots of whimsical details and a fun upbeat aesthetic. There are single page drawings with bees, lots of flowers and herbs, china teacups, butterflies, fruit, and baked goods full of details which invite a closer look.

Five stars. It does precisely what it sets out to do. This would make a good choice for a quiet coloring session with a cup of coffee or tea, some fine line markers, and uninterrupted mindful time. It would also be well suited for gift giving, perhaps bundled with a nice set of fine-line markers. 

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

House of Tudor: A Grisly History

House of Tudor: A Grisly History is an accessible and unflinching history of the Tudors by Dr. Mickey Mayhew. Due out 30th April 2022 from Pen & Sword, it's 232 pages (in print) and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

I enjoy history and especially English history with bonus engagement on my part for late medieval to the early modern periods. This selection hit a lot of high points for me. The author has done a good job of selecting the mildly to moderately salacious bits which we never get to read about in school history classes. It's arranged thematically and roughly chronologically in chapters, each of which tell a particular bit of the history of the Tudors during and after their dynastic reign of more than 100 years. Despite their fame and relative wealth, their lives were most often bloody and short, often because of intolerance, war, political infighting, and/or disease. 

This is a layman accessible and eminently readable book. Despite the bonafides of the author, it's not written in formal academic language, and there are no chapter notes or citations in the text. There is a fairly comprehensive bibliography and index, however, which will provide many hours of further background reading if readers wish for more in-depth background. 

Four and a half stars. Definitely not a formal academic work, but fascinating for history fans who want a readable book about the Tudors. 

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

Izar, The Amesbury Archer: A Pioneer Metal Smith

Izar, The Amesbury Archer is an accessible fictionalized narrative of the life of an early bronze age metalworker  based on extant archaeological evidence, written by Michael E. Wills. Released 21st June 2021, it's 250 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a very well imagined story based on archaeological evidence discovered in a burial cache in 2002 in Amesbury, near Stonehenge which dates from circa 2300 B.C.E. The author writes a compelling and fascinating story about the possible life and history of the man he calls Izar. Tests performed on the tooth enamel of the actual skeleton support an origin in the Alps, and the author skillfully weaves a story which explains the physical characteristics (deformed and missing knee, tooth enamel showing a birthplace and early childhood in central European Alpine region, and the artifacts he was buried with) alongside an entertaining and plausible story. 

The language is simple and direct and would be appropriate for older middle grade kids through teenagers. This would make a superlative selection for public or school library acquisition, library reading groups or classroom reading circles, as well as the home library. Although important to remember that it's a fiction account, it does a very good job of explaining the physical realities of the gravesite, skeleton, and grave goods found in 2002. The book also includes a number of photographs and maps including a photo recreation of the burial site with artifacts in situ.

Five stars. 

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

King Bullet (Sandman Slim #12)

King Bullet is the 12th and self-professed final book in the Sandman Slim UF series by Richard Kadrey. Released 17 Aug 2021 by Harper Voyager, it's 303 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out summer 2022. 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 full-bore double barrel action filled explosion of gore and violence from start to finish. It's quite possibly even more over the top than the previous books in the series. LA is in ruins, the law enforcement and municipal infrastructure are stretched so thin (or just non-existent) that they've given up even the pretense of control. There's a semi-zombie/psycho pandemic ravaging the population and Stark's the only guy who's still trying to save his friends. 

As the other books, it's a character driven ensemble narrative with Stark at the wedge point of the phalanx with his misfit, dead, dying, weird, human and non-human friends and cohorts ranged behind him, trying to save a world which emphatically doesn't want to be saved from its own doom. Fans of the series will already be familiar with the level of language and graphic content; readers who haven't read any of the previous books will need to be aware of the extreme non-stop gore and violence. I sometimes play a mental game with myself and keep a body count as I'm reading and in this instance, I gave up a couple chapters into the read. 

Although it's undoubtedly possible to read this one as a standalone, that would be a recipe for frustration, since the cast of characters is so large and has so much interconnected back history. I would strongly recommend reading at least the first book before tackling this one for readers who aren't familiar with Stark and his back-story. 

The author and publisher have provided disclaimer warnings about self-harm, suicide, and PTSD. I would add to the above list: sexual and physical violence, extreme body horror, and societal collapse (and all that entails). I am assuming that most readers will know (hopefully only in the abstract) what autophagia means, but if not just remember that from the Greek auto = self and phagia = eat/consume. (Probably best not to look it up online). 

Four stars. I did feel like this was a more formulaic effort than the previous few books, but the author is adept enough and experienced enough and just plain talented enough, that this is an eminently readable, cinematic conclusion (?) to the series. This is not for readers who object to graphic violence in their UF/noir books. Fans of A.D. 2000, Judge Dredd (NOT the movies), etc, will find much that is blackly humorous and enjoyable. Just read the first couple books in the series to get the dramatis personae fixed for context before tackling this one. 

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

Alice in Wonderland Puzzles: With Original Illustrations by Sir John Tenniel

Alice in Wonderland Puzzles is an engaging collection of puzzles and brain teasers by Dr. Gareth Moore. Due out 1st March 2022 from Arcturus Publishing, it's 256 pages and will be 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.

This is a nice collection of varied puzzles, over 130 in all and of varying difficulty, from mild to moderate. The puzzles have some nice tie-ins to the canonical books, and are also liberally enhanced by Sir John Tenniel's wonderful original illustrations. The puzzles themselves include word ladders, logic puzzles, mazes, anagrams, and chessboard visual puzzles. Disappointingly there are no -actual- chess puzzles, beloved of Lewis Carrol and fans.

With the ebook version, there are active links to the answer keys from the individual puzzle pages as well as a hyperlink from the answer back to the puzzle. 

Five stars. Charming and worthwhile. A good choice for puzzle mavens as well as Carrol fans.

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

Renovated to Death

Renovated to Death is the first book in a new cozy house renovator series by Frank Anthony Polito. Due out 31st May 2022 from Kensington, it's 288 pages and will be 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.

This is a house/decorating cozy built around the premise of a HGTV type renovation team who are also partners in real life as well as on their house renovation TV series. It's an ensemble cast and made up of the gay couple (PJ and JP) who are the stars and creative duo behind the TV show called Domestic Partners. Their season project for the show is a craftsman built bungalow in their immediate neighborhood, unoccupied for decades, and owned by twin brothers who disagree about almost everything, including the house makover. 

It's a new series, and I am looking forward to see what comes next, with some codicils and warnings. The book, the characters, the settings, the ancillary characters, in short everything is quite often almost caricature campy and overdone, nearly (but not quite) breaking the fourth wall. There are a number of super precious details which only served to confuse me. I am still not 100% sure I know which one of the main characters is PJ and which one's JP and don't really care a lot since it doesn't affect the outcome of the story. The secondary characters are largely over-the-top stereotypes: drama queen, gay twin brothers who are constantly at each other's throats, lots of unflatteringly rendered himbo-hook-up-app young men looking for sugar-daddies, sleek token straight couple (bonus points for them being interracial), etc. 

I'm not slamming the stereotypes, but they did make me feel slightly old and straight and melancholy (and tired) from all of the machinations and anger and angst pouring out of the secondary characters. Of the main characters, they're sweetly stable, if a bit precious, and I liked reading about them. One thing which threw me, and I'm not sure it really served the book from a technical standpoint, is that the PoV changes from first person to third person omniscient several places and there was no chapter heading or notation which signaled the change in PoV. The book is absolutely full of fulsome descriptions of house construction and detail terms as well as references to period furniture and decorating. This will likely be a plus for folks who love decorating and house-flipper type mysteries. It's also filled with angsty dramatic scenes around the relationships between the characters - who is secretly seeing who, who's being dumped for a younger replacement, and so forth. I didn't engage much with the confrontations and drama, but they are a significant component of the plot.

It made me smile that the puppy the MCs hope to adopt they want to name Mr. Clyde Barker. It's maybe a little cutesy precious, but it fits very well with the vibe of the book. The language is very clean and although there's a fair bit of talk about who is sleeping with who, there's no explicit content on-page written into the narrative. (No racy bits).

Four stars, with the understanding that readers who object to LGBTQIA+ representation aren't going to find much to like here. It's a very gay positive book, in a sort of lighthearted and campy way.

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

The Seleucid Army of Antiochus the Great: Weapons, Armour and Tactics

The Seleucid Army of Antiochus the Great is an interesting and comprehensive academic military history of the Greek Hellenistic ruler researched and written by Dr. Jean Charl Du Plessis. Due out 30th April 2022 from Pen & Sword, it's 352 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

This is a meticulously written and annotated history of the organisation, training, history, armour & weapons technology, and campaigns which Antiochus III's army were involved in during the 36 years of his reign (222-187 B.C.E.). The information is arranged logically with thematic chapters in several sections: the land forces (infantry and cavalry), the auxiliary forces at Raphia (including campaigns and engagements), special forces and terror weapons (elephants and chariots!), and battle history and assessments.

Although the author is a historian and academic, the writing is perfectly accessible to any readers interested in military and political history, even ones who are not academics with a background in the time period. There are copious notes and annotations throughout which will provide many hours of additional reading and information. The book contains illustrations and many maps showing the borders and changes in the geopolitical landscape during Antiochus' time. I really enjoyed the modern photos of replica (and historical) weapons and armour which show the construction and utilisation of protective/offensive gear which would've been like those used by the soldiers of the time period. 

The cross referenced index and bibliography are well written and extensive. 

Five stars. This would be a superlative selection for public or school library acquisition, fans of military history, as well as historical re-enactors, SCAdians, and possibly theatre type folks. I was riveted to see the actual damage a .45 slug did to a reproduction Corinthian bronze helm (photos on p. 212 in the eARC edition which I received for review). The author has seriously done his homework on what sort of physical protection might have been afforded soldiers in battle. 

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

Death in Disguise (Adam and Eve Mystery #1)

Death in Disguise is the first book in a new British cozy series by Emma Davies. Released 9th Feb 2022, it's 326 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.

It's always fun to find new cozy series, and this one is off to a promising start. The author is experienced at her craft and quite adept at plotting and characterization. The mystery itself is well engineered and the clues are all "fair-play" and revealed slowly throughout the narrative. I was really engaged from the start with caterer Fran (her surname is Eve), and her erstwhile sidekick/young friend Adam, the socially awkward son of a catering client. I found it charming and refreshing that they *are* friends and there's zero romance and never a hint of hanky-panky between Adam (he's 23) and Fran (who's 40 and happily married).

The language is clean (PG rated) and the violence is off-scene. It's perfectly safe for work/commute reading and the resolution and denouement are well written and satisfying. I'm looking forward to what comes next for Fran & co. 

Four stars.

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

Major Depression and the Woke Government: The Causes and Cures of Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depression and the Woke Government is a purportedly nonfiction look at mental health as it relates to the current US political climate related by Daryl V. De Marco. Released 19th Jan 2022 by the author, it's 122 pages (print version) and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is 122 pages of disorganized, ranting screed on how the media and "the left" is responsible for everything from globalization to (literally) depression. Where only adults used to be depressed, now even kids are suffering from mental illness and it's all a huge insidious plot from the liberals to poison minds and steal everyone blind. 

Here's a more or less random paragraph quote: 

Recently, the left has begun pumping out the propaganda to lower the bar so they don’t look like complete fools when they lose the next few elections. Their goal is to lower expectations so the dismal results they produce don’t look so bad. What I am concerned about is how they abuse the power they have now before they officially lose it. They are scurrying to get the damage done like the rats they are.

I'm glad the author has, according to himself, gotten over his mental health issues in his own way. I also applaud his apparently genuine desire to help out his fellow humans. I am alarmed and angered in about equal measure by anyone (anyone) suggesting treatment advice for a potentially life threatening complex illness who has *no* background medical education, provides *NO* real evidence based research, *NO* notes or citations, and in short, takes readers on a 120+ page unhinged rant about the "leftist media". 

Beware of *anyone* who says they, and they alone, are the clever ones who will show you the way. Beware of *ANYONE* who says only they know what's really going on and they'll give you the info. Beware of *anyone* who says "do your own research" and then doesn't even bother to try to give concrete practice based information. There's a concept called "confirmation bias" and it applies to every sentence in this book (although he provides no sources).

For anyone who is dealing with major illness (somatic or mental), I encourage and beseech you to get real, professional (potentially lifesaving) help from actual medical professionals. There are local resources throughout the USA to get referrals and often sliding scale financial help. The last two years have been hard on *everyone* and anyone who *isn't* suffering probably hasn't been paying attention. Major depressive disorder is a medical diagnosis, and a serious one, and NOT something that is self-diagnosed or self-treatable in any responsible way.

One star. This is a *dangerously* irresponsibly bad book. I am truly shocked that the self-publishing house ( www.tellwell.ca ) has not insisted on any sort of disclaimer. I foresee a potentially dire legal future. 

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

A Deadly Coincidence (Lipton St Faith #1)

A Deadly Coincidence is the first book in a historical cozy mystery series by Keith Finney. Released 15th July 2021 by Lume Books, it's 252 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free along with the other books in the series.

This is a light WW2 cozy historical adventure set in Norfolk. The main protagonists, the local vicar's daughter and a US volunteer pilot "doing his bit" before the USA officially entered the war, are untangling the suspected murder of the local postman. There are elements of romance (but nothing at *all* scandalous in the book or more egregious than strictly platonic, nearly maternal, kisses on foreheads). The author has taken some pains with historical and geographic research. He does quite a good job of evoking the time period through quaint dialogue and background descriptions (flyovers, ration coupons, the Women's Land Army, etc).

The narrative is well written but slow-paced and readers used to hastier writing might find their attention wandering. All in all, I found it charmingly nostalgic if possibly a bit unrealistically saccharine. The spelling and vernacular are true to the area and location. The author has included a handy short glossary of terms for readers who might be unfamiliar. 

Three and a half stars. Worth a look for fans of the time period. It's squeaky clean and there's nothing in the writing or language which would startle anyone's maiden aunt.

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

A Guide to Manga, Anime and Video Game Cosplay

A Guide to Manga, Anime and Video Game Cosplay is a good beginner overview for multi-genre cosplay by Holly Swinyard. Tentatively due out 30th April 2022 from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a good general starting place for readers who are interested in cosplay. The author does a superb job introducing the background, current culture, and selecting projects and figuring out how to make a start for people just beginning in the hobby. I really liked her encouraging and supportive writing style. I (literally) grew up in the fandom world. My dad (and my grandfather! to a lesser degree) were early golden/silver age comics fans and I was along for the ride. To say that the fandom can be exclusionary and clique-y is a major understatement and Ms. Swinyard's welcoming and encouraging vibe are really nice to see. 

The chapters following the introduction are arranged thematically and give some good advice on where to find inspiration and resources to choosing a character to cosplay through getting started and making the props and costumes. This is -not- a specific tutorial guide and there are no actual patterns contained here. The book is lavishly illustrated throughout with pictures from fan-group archives of cosplayers past and present. Spelling and terminology are British standard English throughout. That won't present a problem in context for readers outside the UK, but it is something to be aware of.

There is a companion book by the same author to cosplay for film & TV cosplay and both have a similar format. Here's a quote from my other review of the Film & TV book which applies equally to this book: 

"The models are diverse. Representation is important! I remember being a nerdy girl in a *very* male dominated gaming, comics, and SF fandom and being told that I didn't belong. I gave up a million times, discouraged. Honestly it was the stories which always dragged me back (and finding a solid group of friends who stopped noticing I was female). I -wanted- Starfleet and the Federation to be true... I -needed- them to be true. Fandom is where we get to make the dreams true for just a little while. That's important and this author clearly "gets it".

The following chapters take cosplayers through choosing a cosplay (or more than one) to put together and gives some concrete advice beyond "pick your favourite character". There's quite a lot to think about and the author does a good job of being encouraging and thorough. I really liked that they took the time to specifically say that cosplayers don't need to feel locked into a particular character because they might have similar physical characteristics to that character - it's ok to love the costume, to relate to the character for other emotional reasons, to get outside one's own skin (hint: that's why we *do* this). "

The author has included some of the best chapter notes and references for further reading I've seen in a book of this type. This would make a superlative selection for library acquisition, maker's groups, theatre/recreation/SCA use and similar. 

Five stars.

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

Indoor Green: Create your own green space with this expert gardening guide (Collins Gardening)

Indoor Green is one of a set of accessible gardening guides by Joe Swift covering a range of gardening topics. Due out 3rd March 2022 from Harper Collins on their Collins Reference imprint, it's 224 pages and will be available in ebook format. 

This is a well written and no-nonsense guide to houseplants; decorating with houseplants, culture, selection and propagation of same. The author presents the info with expertise - it's clear he knows what he's talking about, but does so without being preachy or pedantic. He's done a good job of choosing the plants which are as attractive as possible and most of which have not only aesthetic appeal but other uses. Most plants are referred to by both common and botanical (Latin) name for clarity and identification.

The book is full of full color photographs for inspiration and clarity. The introduction covers the basics: feeding, watering, selection, and other necessary criteria for plant success. They're simple and logically presented. As the author says "Most indoor plants really do want to grow, they just need a helping hand".  The following chapters provide reference and info for most plant families including a surprisingly good overview (but not a complete course, obvs) over bonsai, citrus, and kokodama (plants growing in "moss balls"), and even *clutching pearls* faux botanicals (fakes).

One of the high points for me with this volume was the useful and specific extra information included on choosing containers for particular purposes, repotting (where, when, how), pest control, troubleshooting, and the small tutorials sprinkled throughout. Spelling and terminology are British English, but won't present any problems in context with readers from North America.

Four and a half stars. This would be a good choice for public and school libraries, gardening groups, community/allotment gardens, suburban gardeners, homeowners, etc.

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

 

Are the Arts Essential?

Are the Arts Essential? is a collection of expository essays edited and curated by Dr. Alberta Arthurs and Mr. Michael DiNiscia. Due out 22nd Feb 2022 from The NYU Press, it's 344 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

The titular question is (obviously) rhetorical. Over the history of humanity, nearly every crisis, every celebration, every milestone, every momentous occasion has been marked by some kind of artistic expression. When the latest pandemic struck and we were all forced to live on our small islands, we turned to arts and the creative folks who share themselves through their various media to keep us sane and to take us out of ourselves and to keep us safe, if only for a little while. We binge watched TV and films, we read and listened to music at levels never before experienced. We invented new ways to be together when we couldn't physically be near. We knitted and painted, sculpted, wrote, sang, and used creativity to bolster our mental and physical well-being.

This book is a collection of ruminations from eminent scholars and professionals. There are professors of art and ethics, music history, PBS correspondents, museum directors, musicians, composers, visual artists, and others gathered here. I was surprised at how accessible most of the essays were, given that academics sometimes (rightfully) get bad press for being inscrutable and, well, incomprehensible.The essays are gathered thematically into five main sections: how the arts strengthen society, how the arts help individuals, how they create community, how they engage and support the sciences, and how they document history and support truth. 

These are not all easy to read or particularly accessible. Some of them had no immediate relevance to me and I confess, I read them dutifully. A number of them, however, interested me, and made me very glad for access to the libraries and museums (increasingly widely represented in online accessible collections) and the creativity and generosity of the folks making art and sharing it with their fellow humans.

This is a niche book, and will largely fall into the hands of the relative few who already have a vital vested interest in the performing or visual arts, or allied academic fields. It should be required reading for lawmakers and representatives, for the important people holding the purse strings and the local boards-of-education who are making the decisions about art and dance and writing education in schools. That's a shame. 

Five stars. Important ideas presented well herein. This would make a good selection for library acquisition, for folks interested in the arts, as well as nonfiction fans. 

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

Hot and Sour Suspects (A Noodle Shop Mystery #8)

Hot and Sour Suspects is the 8th Noodle Shop mystery by Vivien Chien. Released 25th Jan 2022 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in trade 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 nonfiction ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is such an engaging cozy series with one of the few real girl-friendships and (mostly) healthy family relationships in the genre. I really love Lana's friendship with Megan, her love and loyalty for Adam (requisite handsome cop boyfriend), and her sweet mischievous little pug Kikko. She's loyal and bubbly and smart. She's not some remote superwoman - she has foibles and she just seems so *real*. I'm more her mom's generation in real life, but I'd be happy if my daughter had a friend/roommate like Lana. (I worry she's turning into Cleveland's own Aunt Jessica Fletcher, though... all those murders to solve!).   

This one has a solid plot and the denouement and resolution were satisfying and well written. I like that the author takes care to place the murders in different settings and with different situations - if there were this many murders in one strip mall, people would be fleeing for their lives (even in a big city).  The settings are very well rendered and it's clear that the author has first-hand familiarity with the area. 

The background story is well interwoven in the book, and it works as a standalone without needing to have read the previous books. (I can heartily recommend them as well, for readers looking for a new light cozy series to binge on). The language and content are clean, PG rated, with a sprinkling of lighter cursing and some implied (off scene) consensual overnight stays by the MC's boyfriend. Definitely safe for work or commute reading. 

Four and a half stars, delightfully fun light cozy mystery.

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

Making Myths and Magic: A Field Guide to Writing Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Making Myths and Magic is a practical and well written guide to writing genre speculative fiction presented by Shelly Campbell & Allison Alexander. Due out 18th Feb 2022 from Mythos and Ink, it's 404 pages and will be available in hardcover, 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 nonfiction ebooks with interactive formats lately. It makes finding information again so much easier without having to flip around in the book looking.

This reminds me in all the best ways of a good writing workshop with concrete, logically prepared, and well presented useful advice for the craft of writing, aimed at writers (or would-be writers) who wish to concentrate on speculative fiction. The authors tie-in numerous different media (film, printed fiction, popular culture, etc).  There are relevant writing examples throughout the book which will hopefully help would-be SF/F writers to hone their craft. The authors have included chapter notes and attributions with external links and references which I found very helpful.

Four and a half stars. This was really information dense, fun to read, and very useful. It reminds me a lot of a well run writing workshop with a particularly effective teacher (or in this case, two).  I would recommend it to beginning writers (there are good takeaways here for all genres, not just speculative fiction). It would also be useful for more structured group workshops or classroom use, writer's groups, and similar. 

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

The Ultimate Book of Pub Trivia: Over 400 Rounds of the Greatest, Most Brain-Busting, Hilarious, and Utterly Ingenious Trivia Ever Written

 

The Ultimate Book of Pub Trivia is a well written collection of quiz and trivia, including question rounds (with answers) written by 12 time Jeopardy champion Austin Rogers. Due out 22nd Feb 2022 from Workman Publishing, it's 336 pages (print format) and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy (partially) interactive table of contents. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is such a fun book. The introduction covers the basics: who, what, where, how, when, and why. There are more specifics about venues, cover charges (if any), drinks & snacks, acoustics, scoring, and, really, all the info needed to run a quiz night in the third (final) section of the book. In between the two are the questions, set up in quiz rounds. The answers are given on the same page with the question rounds, upside down (but still easy to read - this could be a drawback in some situations, if visibility and accidentally seeing the answers are a problem. I noticed flipping through the book that I accidentally (?) stumbled over the answers whilst pondering the questions. I was actively trying not to "cheat" but still saw the answers. Since an eARC was the format I was using, it's not really practical (but it *is* possible) to cover the answer key area with a card or piece of paper.

The bulk of the book is taken up with the questions. They're hugely varied, concisely written, and definitely not all easy. I pride myself on being a trivia maven and these weren't a walk in the park. I liked that the author specified some things which I've noticed about pub quiz nights in real life. So many rounds are so specific and esoteric as to be annoying/boring for almost everyone, and the only person having fun is the one who just happens to strike lucky and be the only one in the bar with a ridiculous knowledge of obscure 14th century Coptic fiber-arts techniques... everyone else is annoyed and/or bored. He also raises the salient points that a really exciting quiz night should have the possibility of different teams in the lead at different points during the evening and that nobody really knows ahead of time who's going to win, as well as pointing out that offering small side-prizes for particular rounds (free drinks, meals, etc) will increase engagement and excitement.

Four stars. This is a one-stop resource for planners of trivia nights. It will be a solid resource for trivia fans as a study guide also. There are some repeat answers, but I didn't see any repeat questions. 

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

 

Butcher Pen Road (Bill Maytubby and Hannah Bond Mysteries, #3)

Butcher Pen Road is the third book in the Maytubby & Bond western murder mystery procedural series by Kris Lackey. Released 13th July 2021 by Blackstone, it's 200 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback due out in July 2022). 

I came into the series with this book, the third, and as such, struggled to keep the characters and their interrelationships straight in my mind in the beginning. There's not much backstory given in this book and all the settings and personal characteristics have to be gleaned from context. The writing is good, but delivered in staccato bursts and sentence fragments which might take some getting used to on the reader's part. The setting (rural Oklahoma, including tribal land) is palpable and the author does a very good job with the background descriptions.

This is a multi-agency investigation, and a fair bit of the bandwidth is taken up by inter-departmental jockeying and bickering. It's nice to see the interplay and cooperation and trust between the main characters tribal Sergeant Bill Maytubby and local county Deputy Hannah Bond. The character motivations and underlying plot elements are not relayed in a straightforward manner and are often a bit lost in the chaotic narrative. I had some difficulty winnowing out the salient points and even after the denouement and resolution I was unsure why the initial murder -"needed"- to happen at all. 

There is a tried and true trope in modern fiction of the local police being treated as bumpkins and the feds sweeping in and taking over to the detriment of the crime investigation and justice, but that wasn't my biggest problem with the book. Although it's very well written, the non-linear plotting and scene-hopping were confusing to me and negatively impacted my enjoyment. This was, however, a good read for me and I enjoyed it, and I intend to carry on with the series. 

I recommend it to fans of western (USA) police procedurals with indigenous characters, just don't expect it to be Hillerman or even Craig Johnson. Fans of both of those authors will find lots to enjoy here though. 

Three and a half stars.

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

Kaleidoscope of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life: Their colors and patterns explained

Kaleidoscope of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life is a new science based children's book on the biology behind the colors, shapes, and patterns of prehistoric creatures and nature. Due out 22nd March 2022 from Quarto on their Wide Eyed Editions imprint, it's 64 pages and will be available in hardcover format. It's unclear from the publishing info available online if there are currently any plans for electronic format.

Although aimed at young readers, there is a lot of information here which will probably be new to most of the audience, whatever their age. The text is accessible, accurate, and precise (to the best of current scientific understanding) and the information is explained logically and well. The book divides the animal kingdom by following the Linnaean classification system into vertebrates and invertebrates and then further by phyla, family, etc. The *types* of coloration and the reasons behind them are covered in two-page spreads with explanatory text and examples: fossilization, melanophores, juvenile to adult coloration, sexual dimorphism (different colors for male and female of the same species), the biomechanics behind color changing cells, and more. The illustrations are drawn throughout the book.

The entire book is beautifully illustrated with bright colors and clear pictures. The drawings are very simple, but clear enough to recognize and enjoy. It will provide a good resource for budding scientists to practice drawing for their field journals by copying some of the drawings in this volume. The art (according to the endpapers) was produced using risography, a term and process with which I was previously unfamiliar. The text is high contrast and easy to read.

Five stars. This would be a superlative selection for school or public library acquisition, youth nature/garden groups, scouts, library activity groups, for gifting, or for the home or homeschooling library. 

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

 

Index, A History of the: A Bookish Adventure from Medieval Manuscripts to the Digital Age

Index, A History of the is a fun and accessible look at the genesis and philosophy behind the humble (or not so humble) index capably examined by Dr. Dennis Duncan. Due out 15th Feb 2022 from W.W. Norton, it's 352 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (hardcover available now). 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 could have been a dry-as-dust straight rendering of a sometimes-unsung bit of biblio-history. It could have been a dull recitation of facts, and figures, and sources. It's anything but. There is a fair amount of history involved, but there's also a pervasive self-deprecating humour alongside the facts and figures. There are places which are slyly winking at the foibles of innumerable bookish sorts throughout the past; we're invited to grin indulgently alongside academic quarrels hundreds of years old, their original combatants long passed, but their registered grievances laid open for our perusal.There's philosophy and thought aplenty, and, I confess, very much about which I'd never stopped to ponder.

The book is full of extant examples of the genesis (of necessity and efficiency) of the humble index. There are thoughts about what an index really -is- and why it has the form it has. There's an interesting examination of atypical indexes (we're instructed that we should leave "indices" to the mathematicians and scientists) used as a narrative medium, and more. In short, everything we could really ask to know about the index, Dr. Duncan has anticipated and answered along with a fair bit I didn't even know that I wanted to know. 

The book includes a number of illustrations as well as a cross referenced index (naturally) and full chapter notes and annotations. The chapter notes are likely worth the price of admission for anyone interested in the subject. I took notes during the read and harvested an impressive number of items which warranted further examination later. It's a niche book but will definitely appeal to readers interested in information science and bibliophilia. The author has clearly expended a prodigious amount of effort and he really does know his stuff.

The audiobook version has a run time of 8 hours 9 minutes and is capably narrated by Neil Gardner. Mr. Gardner has an "everyman" sort of slightly Southeast London accent (to my ear) and wouldn't raise an eyebrow as a bricklayer or lorry driver. I am sure that this was a completely intentional casting, and his voice brings a warmth and refreshingly accessible humour to the read. It's nice to listen to his voice which is emphatically not "posh" in this instance. That being said however, this is a VERY minutiae dense book. There are pages and pages and pages of figures and page numbers. It had to have been an absolutely daunting and gargantuan task to complete an audiobook version and it doesn't seem to have been a particularly practical exercise. For example, in the introduction, the author relates an acrimonious exchange between two 19th century historians which takes place in the index of one of the combatant's books and elucidates (in excruciating detail) how their educated expert opinions differ from one another's. The recitation takes the form of a long long list of specific examples with page numbers appended delineating the original author's opinion that his academic nemesis was a nincompoop. Again, the narrator was really good, but just the listing of page numbers and acerbic observations took more than 15 minutes to read aloud. 

Five stars. This is well and deeply researched and engaging.

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

Science Art and Drawing Games for Kids: 35+ Fun Art Projects to Build Amazing Science Skills

Science Art and Drawing Games for Kids is a new STE(A)M heavy activity book for younger readers by Karyn Tripp. Released 8th Feb 2022 by Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 112 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a well arranged and accessibly written guide with lots of tutorials and exercises to illustrate interesting phenomena in science and art learning. The introduction includes a list of tools and supplies (most will already be available in the home/classroom, the rest can be easily and inexpensively sourced online or at local stores). 

The tutorials contain tools and supplies listed in bullet lists in a sidebar followed by step-by-step instructions. Materials measurements are listed in American standard with metric measures in parentheses (yay!). The tutorials contain salient background information and simple explanations for the scientific points they're illustrating. The lessons are not all easy or trivial and the author explains things in a fun and accessible way - even relatively complex concepts such as sound waves, magnetism, setting up Punnett squares and more. I was impressed by the complexity of some of them. A highlighted text bar clearly gives the salient concepts in a short list. The book's introduction includes a handy glossary to help readers keep the vocabulary straight.

The photography and illustrations are colorful and appealing. The tutorial photos are clear, illustrative, and easy to follow. Finding fun ways to keep a learner's interest is key. The activities included in this book are interesting and entertaining and will provide hours of enriching fun.

This would be a superlative choice for classroom or homeschool library, public library activity day, or a gift for a young person.

Five stars, accessible and appealing.

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

Kitty and the Midnight Hour

Second round going back to re-read because I'd forgotten why I'd rated this one 2 stars originally and thought perhaps my feelings might've changed for the better.

The book -is- well written and quite readable. The author's adept at her craft. The dynamics on the other hand.. the r@pey alpha-werewolf tropes and the screaming misogyny unfortunately were as prevalent and unapologetically vile as the last time I read it.

It's a real shame because I loved the parts written in and around the recording studio when she was on-the-air, and I really like the DJ vibe. Can't get past the abuse and misogyny though.  

Still (barely) two stars. Four for the writing.

Wild Animals: Learn to draw using basic shapes--step by step!

I Can Draw! Wild Animals is an appealing and simple line drawing activity book for youngsters. Released 8th Feb 2022 by Quarto on their Walter Foster Jr imprint, it's 32 pages and is available in paperback format.

The drawings are encouragingly simple and the step by step tutorials are accessible and easy to follow and replicate. Each of the 15 drawings has a tutorial series with steps to follow and some simple tips for adding color. All of the tutorials included are easy and fun. They're cute and recognizable and will be easy for anyone to follow. The subjects include animals of all shapes and sizes in different poses and with different fur and characteristics. This book is part of a series with lots of how-to books with the same format. This one shows readers how to draw elephants, hedgehogs, whales, pandas, giraffes, and 10 more.

Great selection for a gift for a young artist, perhaps with some added sketch pads and pencils. This would also make a superlative classroom or library book. I would also recommend this book to babysitters, grandparents, parents, and basically anyone who spends a fair bit of time with small kids in order to up their 'draw with me' game. I really enjoyed this and managed to follow the tutorial .

Five stars. This is a fun activity book and will provide hours amusement for all ages.

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