Till Death Do Us Part (Dr. Gideon Fell #15)

Till Death Do Us Part is the 15th Dr. Gideon Fell mystery by John Dickson Carr. Originally released in 1944 this reformat and re-release, out 5th May 2020 is part of the British Library Crime Classics series by Poisoned Pen Press. The new edition is 272 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. (Other editions available in other 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.

The author is, of course, known for his impossible locked room mysteries. This is another such. Set in England in the years before the second world war, tranquil village life is rocked by a series of accidents (or perhaps not). Soon Dr. Gideon Fell is on hand from London to untangle the mystery.

As with the others in the series, there is an introduction by mystery history expert and historian Martin Edwards. As engaging as these classic mysteries have been, I have looked forward in equal measure to Mr. Edwards' always insightful background commentary.

Four stars. It's a bit dated (it's 78 years old) but has worn well for all that, with a cleverly constructed mystery, smoothly engineered plot, and well written dialogue.

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

The Complete Language of Herbs: A Definitive and Illustrated History

The Complete Language of Herbs is a book of traditional meanings and uses of herbs and herbaceous plants in the traditional manner of the Victorians. It's a companion volume to S. Theresa Dietz's other encyclopedia with the same theme about flowers.  Due out 2nd Aug 2022 from Quarto on their Wellfleet imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback format.

The book has a retro botanical print vibe and the introduction leads directly into a very short 'how to use this book'. The bulk of the book contains an alphabetical listing of the flowers and plants. Each listing contains a color illustration followed by some of the common names for each plant listed, symbolic meaning(s), possible powers, and folklore and facts. The listings are compact and there are 4-6 listings per page. The book includes a nice bibliography and index. The index includes the plants listed with common names alphabetically; the've also included an abbreviated bibliography for further research.

This is an appealing and very pretty book for a somewhat niche audience. It's more useful for readers who are interested in the folklore and historical uses of the plants contained in the listings rather than readers looking for practical culture and modern herbal uses.

Four stars.

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

World of Weird: A Creepy Compendium of True Stories

World of Weird is an anthology of true (but somewhat creepy) curiosities gathered and explained by the fictive Dr. McCreebor (Tom Adams) in a manner which will delight all ages. Due out 2nd Aug 2022 from Quarto on their Wide Eyed Editions imprint, it's 64 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is written as a book inside a book - as a journal found by a scientist of his Victorian ancestor's notes and drawings. It's got an engaging and graphically appealing layout and is full of interesting and weird tidbits from natural history, ephemera, and other oddities. Aimed at all ages, it's written in easy to understand language and it's fully illustrated, so kids 8+ will likely find it fascinating. The subjects are presented in a (mostly) age appropriate manner and there's nothing directly graphic or violent.There is a section with implements of torture which is a bit morbid and which will have most kids gleefully interested in bygone torture machines. (I certainly was at that age and even made a model of an iron maiden for a school project which horrified everyone).

The entries are gathered thematically into chapters: mechanical items, natural world, spiritualism in Victorian times, crime and punishment, magic, and death practices. The author has included a glossary, but the book lacks an index or bibliography. 

The book is illustrated in an antique style with electronic line drawn images and clip-art graphics by "Celsius Pictor". The drawings are engaging and retro/antique looking. The type is high contrast and easy to read. 

Four stars. This is the kind of book the majority of kids will find fascinating. It might be a bit much for sensitive readers. For that reason, I would encourage a thorough reading on the part of library acquisition committees before adding to their juvenile library collections. It's otherwise weird and quirky and I recommend it. 

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

A History of London County Lunatic Asylums & Mental Hospitals

 

A History of London County Lunatic Asylums & Mental Hospitals is an interesting and information dense monograph on London County mental healthcare and hospitals by Ed Brandon. Published in the UK 28th July 2022 by Pen & Sword, it's 224 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. Due for release outside the UK in fourth quarter 2022.

This is an annotated and thorough look at mental hospitals and their residents; from their lives to what they ate is covered unflinchingly and meticulously. The book's 7 chapters are arranged geographically with individual institutions' statistics in relevant subchapters. Although it's clearly well researched and annotated, the text is accessible and easy to read. The language is not rigorously academic (or intentionally obfuscated). Most of the descriptions reflect the tragic circumstances of the patients of these institutions and I was especially affected by the descriptions of the abandoned and derelict facilities, often abandoned in haste and left to ruin. 

The author has included a solid cross-referenced index, chapter endnotes, and a bibliography for further reading. The text is enhanced throughout with clear historical photos and facsimiles of documents, hospitals, and grounds. These include interior and exterior photos of abandoned and derelict buildings. 

Altogether interesting and educational and in many places, quite sad.

Five stars. 

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

Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives (Pignon Scorbion #1)

 

Pignon Scorbion & the Barbershop Detectives is the first book in a light historical cozy mystery series by Rick Bleiweiss. Released 8th Feb 2022 by Blackstone, it's 300 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a quirky Edwardian shopfront cozy with an ensemble cast of eccentric characters, and none moreso than the titular newly arrived chief inspector Pignon Scorbion. He's a sartorial force-majeur (channeling his hero Monsieur Poirot) with a formidable intellect and backed up by a Greek chorus of barbershop employees, he sets his brain to solving crimes. 

Although it's not derivative, stylistically I would place it in the same subgenre with Richard Osman and maybe Edmund Crispin. It's a bit farcical and pompous, but there are some smiles to be found here. I suspect it will engender delight or antipathy and not much in between those two extremes. I found it charmingly silly in places and an engaging diverting light read. I'm looking forward to find out what comes next.

Four stars.

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

A Half-Built Garden

A Half-Built Garden is an intelligent and compelling SF first contact near-future novel by Ruthanna Emrys. Released 26th July 2022 by Macmillan on their Tor Forge imprint, it's 352 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 beautifully written story, slow moving, with gravitas. I was engaged quite literally from the first page. Alien first contact stories are a favorite and this is a good one. It's set in 2083 and humans have finally banded together (more or less) to banish the corporations to isolated outposts and are in a desperate race to save Earth and maintain habitability. The aliens show up to convince what's left of humanity to abandon Earth before a catastrophe renders it a lost cause.

The first person protagonist/narrator is sympathetically written, intelligent, queer, compassionate, and three dimensional. There's a lot of content in the book extrapolating out from corporate oligarchy, corruption, greed, and the nature of power and the effect that has on our climate and habitat. At the same time, it's very much a story about parenthood and identity and the fact that diapers have to be changed and babies insist on being fed even if you're just a few minutes from first contact with alien lifeforms. Some of the mentions of parenting moments gave a whiff of whimsy, some of them, I felt, broke up the narrative thread a bit and yanked me out of my suspension of disbelief.

There is a very human story here, wrapped in a breathtakingly creative world building which made me pause at several points in amazement. Ms. Emrys is a gifted storyteller and this is a well written story. 

Four stars. 

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

The Unkept Woman (Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery #4)

The Unkept Woman is the fourth Sparks & Bainbridge historical mystery by Allison Montclair. Released 26th July 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

The writing is the high point. It's elegantly sculpted, engaging, and smoothly flawless. Readers will appreciate the settings and descriptions. The characters, including the secondary ones, are well rounded and feel integral and more than window dressing. 

The dialogue is intelligent and often rapid fire. I enjoyed the flow of the banter, especially between the two titular main characters; even (especially) when they were discussing very serious subjects, such as the death of a colleague, wartime activities and deaths, and Gwen's legal troubles re-establishing herself as sane and getting custody of her son back. 

I had some slight trouble with some seemingly anachronistic aspects of the story. For example, both women have a regular psychotherapist and the parts of their sessions relayed in the narrative seem thoroughly modern by comparison and my suspension of disbelief was shaken each time the doctor says "and how did that make you feel?" or "did you consider that...". At the time the book was written, state of the art treatment still included lobotomization and electroconvulsive therapy. 

There are some potentially triggering themes: mental illness, racism, sexist treatment of women, suicide ideation, The book is warmly and sympathetically written but it's generally not humorous at all. 

Four stars. Although the mystery is self contained here (and a twisty mystery it is), there are major spoilers for earlier books if read out of order.

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

Murder Through the English Post (Beryl and Edwina Mystery #6)

Murder Through the English Post is the 6th Beryl & Edwina English cozy mystery by Jessica Ellicott. Released 26rh July 2022 by Kensington, it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback large print format due out in fourth quarter 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 delightfully quirky, beautifully written historical cozy village mystery set in the interwar period in sleepy village Walmsley Parva. There's a poison pen campaign sowing distrust and discord in the village and intrepid enquiry agents Beryl and Edwina are soon on the case. As with the other books in the series, there are lots of side plots which are engaging in themselves, but which also enrich and entwine with the main story. 

There's a very golden age feel to the whole and the author has a deft touch with dialogue and characterization. The characters are nuanced and delightfully rendered with drawing room wit. Although it's not at all derivative in any way, the feel of the story and the narrative voice remind me a lot of why I love Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce books. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours and is -masterfully- narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. She has a beautifully modulated quite deep voice and the enunciation and perfection of characters' accents stupefied and delighted me. There is a moderate amount of quite rapid dialogue in the read and she hops from crisp cut-glass upper class British to indefinite English with quite distinct Scottish brogue, to a domestic servant's broad midlands, and midwest American without a single stumble. This is unquestionably the best audiobook I've heard this year. 

The plot is slow and measured. Aside from the poison pen campaign, there's not a lot of action in the first third of the book apart from former gardener turned ready-made canned food magnate Simpkins' foray into greengage plum jam with en eye to adding it to his company's product line. I found the methodical plot development very relaxing and restful. 

It could be read as a standalone, however, there will be major spoilers for earlier books in the series if read out of order. 

Four and a half stars, five for the audiobook narration. This would make a superlative choice for public library acquisition, social reading (bookclubs, buddy reads, etc - in fact the author has suggested discussion questions on her website) as well as being a great candidate for a very well written series binge read. 

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

(Lighthouse Library Mystery #9)

Death by Beach Read is the 9th Lighthouse library mystery by Eva Gates. Released 7th June 2022 by Crooked Lane, it's available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out second quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a clean cozy mystery with book recommendations in the text throughout, cat (a Himalayan called Charles), a soon-to-be-married librarian main character, a library in a lighthouse (which doesn't really feature centrally in this story), and a landmark house which might be haunted and which certainly has a tragic past. Although it's part of a series, there's enough backstory woven into the plot that it works fine as a standalone. The ensemble cast is full of eccentric small town characters, but the author is skillful enough and the writing technically adept enough that the whole works well enough. The plotting proceeds at a good clip, and although the dialogue is a bit trope-y in some places, it's not intrusive enough to yank readers out of their suspension of disbelief.

The language is squeaky clean, no cursing whatsoever. The denouement and resolution were satisfying and there were some last minute twists which added a nice coda to the ending. Since there are 9 books extant in the series, it would make a good candidate for a light binge read. 

This is simply a well written, readable, and enjoyable library cozy (with cat). There are also a number of fun bonus reading prompts referenced in the book which will lead the reader to other books and series. I also liked that the author highlights the fun and social aspects of book clubs. Talking about books with other book lovers adds another whole level of enjoyment. It's well worth a look for fans of the genre.

Four stars.

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

American Sign Language Made Easy for Beginners: A Visual Guide with ASL Signs, Lessons, and Quizzes

American Sign Language Made Easy for Beginners is a well written and illustrated learning manual for ASL by Travis Belmontes-Merrell. Due out 2nd Aug 2022 from Rockridge Press, it's 276 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers; this title is available in the KU subscription to borrow and download for free. It's also worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

The book introduces signs gradually starting with the basics (ABCs, numbers, some syntax, how to learn ASL). Later chapters cover greetings, feelings, daily routines, time & place, food & drink, activities & events, travel, health safety & colors. The book also includes a nice bibliography, resources (with active hyperlinks), and some cool learning activities; quizzes and answer keys. The photo illustrations are clear and easy to follow. Each picture is captioned in easy to understand unambiguous language for making the signs. The model, Jocelyn Only, is experienced and has experience as an ASL model from other books.

This is an accessible fun book for learning ASL. It would also make a superlative library book (school, classroom, public) or extracurricular activity (scouting, etc).

Five stars.

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

Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them: A Cosmic Quest from Zero to Infinity

Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them is a genuinely fascinating look at numbers, physics, and the nature of reality gathered and facilitated by Dr. Antonio Padilla. Released 26th July by Macmillan on their Farrar, Straus and Giroux imprint, it's 352 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 book is absolutely bursting with personality. Dr. Padilla *loves* numbers, and math, and really wants to share the love with everyone. Many (most) mathematics and physics books, even those accessible to the average layperson, presuppose at least some affinity with the subject matter. I think of it as "preaching to the choir". Not so this book. The author explains things in such a way as to make them accessible and understandable to almost anyone. There are no long and arduous proofs to work through (though he does give copious notes and there's enough meat and rigor to satisfy actual maths/physics folks). He explains quite complex theory in a fun way. 

Books like this one are a tragedy for me personally in some ways because a long time ago, there was an academic split and I took the road more traveled - toward a life of professional bionerdery and away from the more crystalline forests of physics and mathematics. When I read books like this one (and when I revisit Feynman's Lectures, as I do once every few years) it fills me with a nostalgic wistfulness about not following physics more earnestly. 

Maths and physics certainly *can* and *should* be engaging and fun. This is a good book. I would recommend it for maths/physics interested adults or older teenagers or *very* engaged younger readers. If 12 year old me had had a copy, I might not be a bioengineer today. 

Language and spelling are British English but it won't cause any problems in context.

Five stars.

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

The Paper Caper (Bibliophile Mystery #16)

The Paper Caper is the 16th Bibliophile cozy mystery by Kate Carlisle. Published 26th July 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley 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 an easy breezy read. The characters are rendered lightly and are honestly sometimes a bit tropey, but it's an appealing and whimsical story. The protagonist is sweet and likeable and although she has a penchant for landing in the middle of murder and mayhem, she seems to always manage to stay kind, resourceful, and (mostly) brave. I found my suspension of disbelief yanked at a few places but at the end of the day it's a cozy mystery and while it's not egregiously silly, it is a cozy for real fans of the genre.  

As the others in the series there are lots of classic book name drops for readers who like suggestions for their TBR lists. The language is clean, there is no gore, and the denouement and resolution (though a bit over the top) are well done and satisfying. The book is technically adept and quite well put together and I never found it lagging or too slow.  Although it's the 16th book in the series, it would work as a standalone, readers won't have troubles keeping up with the story, but they must be willing to accept major spoilers for earlier books if read out of order. 

The unabridged audiobook from Dreamscape is narrated by Sara Young and has a runtime of 9 hours 3 minutes. I had some issues with the voice reading in the first few chapters since it's a very dialogue heavy book and the narrator was doing three different accents  and both male and female parts. The narrator did find her pacing eventually and the accents mostly straightened out after a few chapters.

Four stars. This is a perfectly fun light read in a fun series. Recommended for fans of book themed cozies.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Tea Gardening for Beginners: Learn to Grow, Blend, and Brew Your Own Tea At Home

 

Tea Gardening for Beginners is an interesting and well written tutorial guide for hobbyists who want to experiment with growing and blending teas at home. Due out 26th July 2022 from Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 136 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. (Ebook available at time of review). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

The first chapters give a short overview and introduction to what tea *is* and how to grow different plants and plan for the special culture needs of tea plants, along with a little bit on hardiness zones and garden planning. The author, Julia Dimakos, is an experienced gardener and teacher with a experience in home gardening. 

The majority of the book content covers individual plant profiles. They are arranged thematically by which part of the plant is used: leaves, flowers, fruits & seeds, and roots. The book also contains a number of recipes for different tea blends such as health & wellness, relaxation blends, energy, bedtime, and a few others. Recipe ingredients are given in a bullet list. Measurements are provided in imperial (American measurements only), followed by blending and preparation instructions. The instructions and plant profiles are easy to understand and follow and the illustrations are clear and easy to identify.

There are no photographs included, but the book is charmingly illustrated throughout in watercolor. The author/editors have included useful resource and links lists as well as a hyperlinked bibliography which will provide readers with lots of further information. 

Four and a half stars. Very well written and up-to-date information.

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

The Big Dark Sky

The Big Dark Sky is an SF/horror thriller by Dean Koontz. Released 19th July 2022 by Thomas & Mercer, it's 390 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 1st quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

I've had varied experiences with Dean Koontz over the last several decades. This is a very *odd* book but universally well written and seriously engaging. There were hours during the read when I was so invested in what was happening that I was even unaware of the passage of time. The plot is quite convoluted and I found it very difficult to keep all the secondary characters straight. It's for that reason that I recommend the electronic format since it makes searches much easier. 

There are shades of Canterbury Tales here, with the characters' individual journeys to the meeting place intertwining along the way. There's an overarching plot which defies description and is more or less a world-threatening dark power ranged against the protagonist for the future of humanity (or annihilation). 

The denouement and resolution felt rushed to me. I had to go back and re-read it a couple of times and still wasn't 100% sure I understood. There are some foreshadowings hinting at another related book, which would be intriguing.

Four stars. This one, in my estimation, suffers from moderate book bloat in the middle. The intro and denouement are engaging and progress rapidly. 

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

Mint Chocolate Murder (Ice Cream Shop Mysteries #2)

Mint Chocolate Murder is the second Ice Cream Shop storefront cozy mystery by Meri Allen. Due out 26th July 2022 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in mass market 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.

Small town shopfront cozies full of whimsy, easy to read, and with a puzzle to solve, are my favorites. This is the second book in a promising series with a self-contained mystery, fun eccentric local characters, a disagreeable murder victim who turns up dead and a stable full of potential suspects for former CIA librarian (and spy)-turned-ice-cream-shop-manager Riley Rhodes to untangle. 

It's well written with light, non-intrusive (if not overly realistic) dialogue, and with a plot that moves along at a good clip. It's the second book in the series, but the necessary backstory is written in, and the mystery is self contained in this installment, so it's fine as a standalone. The language is clean (very light PG level with a single "damn" and nothing else to scandalize an elderly auntie). 

This one also includes a tempting looking recipe for no-churn pumpkin spice ice cream. 

Four stars. Definitely one for fans of shopfront cozies. 

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

The Cry of the Hangman (Lucy Campion Mysteries #6)

The Cry of the Hangman is the 6th Lucy Campion historical mystery by Susanna Calkins. Released 2nd Nov 2021 by Severn House, it's 240 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. Paperback due out in late Sept 2022. 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 very well written and engaging historical mystery with an intelligent female protagonist who is a printer's apprentice. Set in the second half of the 17th century, the sense of place and verisimilitude give as much character and background as any of the human characters. The story and settings are clearly very well researched and meticulously rendered. 

The plot is convoluted and well engineered and I never found my interest waning or lost my suspension of disbelief during the read. The story, climax, denouement, and resolution are well paced and satisfying. 

Although the mystery is self contained, a great deal of the plot revolves around Lucy's previous life as a servant in the household of a magistrate - so I would recommend that readers who are new to the series begin with at least some of the earlier books.

Four stars. This is a very well written mystery and highly recommended for fans of historical mystery. There are 6 books extant in the series, making it a good candidate for a long weekend binge read.

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

Flower Gardening for Beginners A Guide to Growing and Maintaining a Cut-Flower Garden

 

Flower Gardening for Beginners is a technique and inspiration manual for cut flower gardening aimed at home gardeners by Amy Barene. Due out 26th July 2022 from Callisto on their Rockridge imprint, it's 178 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

This is such a aesthetically pleasing and useful book. The author has a friendly accessible style of writing which is encouraging and it feels like a well run workshop class with an organized and experienced facilitator. She explains new concepts in the text and in context. The subjects are arranged from -very- basic basics (how to grow flowers, what to choose, how to plan and situate a garden), to more complex subjects such as troubleshooting, maintenance, and flower arranging. 

The second part of the book, roughly half the content, contains seasonal blooms with each flower's profile linked from the table of contents. Profiles contain plant name (both Latin and common names), perennial/annual/biennial, zone hardiness, and culture info. There are no photos, but each profile contains a beautifully detailed color watercolor of each bloom which is easily recognizable. The author/editors have also included some useful appendices such as resource and links lists to suppliers, zone maps (for the USA), and a useful hyperlinked bibliography for further reading.

Four and a half stars This is a useful and graphically appealing book. It would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, gardening groups, smallholders, home gardeners, and community gardeners.  

 

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

An Impossible Impostor (Veronica Speedwell #7)

 

 

An Impossible Impostor is the 7th Veronica Speedwell mystery by Deanna Raybourn. Released 15th Feb 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 325 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a historical cozy mystery with a heaping helping of saucy romance between the main character duo (Veronica and Stoker). There is a fair bit of backstory for the characters and setup for the storyline, so I wouldn't really recommend it as a standalone. Additionally, there are some major spoilers for the characters' development contained in this volume (which literally had my mouth hanging open in shock). The entire series is well written, light, and diverting, so a definite contender for a binge reading session.

The main characters are a lepidopterist (Veronica) and a taxidermist (Stoker), so the author gets points for the characters' appealingly nerdy quirks. Their backstories are as varied as they are and there are significant subplot elements revolving around their family entanglements. Although some plot elements are rather dark (extortion, duplicity, etc) the book itself is firmly in the cozy mystery romance genre. I thoroughly enjoyed the denouement and resolution here.

Thoroughly readable and entertaining, the series reminds me a lot Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody. There's no objectionable language, but there are strongly sexually suggestive scenes between the two main characters, some minor (good humored) cross dressing, some shooting, stabbing, and other mayhem. Scattered throughout all of the books are references to specific nomenclature and natural history. It's nerdy and good fun. For readers in search of meticulously researched dialogue and verisimilitude, this one will likely engender teeth gnashing. Bring a hefty suspension of disbelief. On the other hand, it's delightfully wonky, humorous, and ever so slightly spicy (with a few bodices being metaphorically ripped in the course of the adventure). I really enjoyed both the returning characters and the ones who debut in this installment.

Four stars. Recommended for fans of the genre (light romantic historical cozy mystery). It would make a nice buddy or book club read as well as a solid choice for public library acquisition.

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

 

Life of Fire: Mastering the Arts of Pit-Cooked Barbecue, the Grill, and the Smokehouse: A Cookbook

 

Life of Fire is a tutorial and cookbook for live fire cooking pit-fired barbecue, grilling, and smoking foods with recipes by Pat Martin and Nick Fauchald. Released 15th March 2022 from Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in hardcover, spiral bound, and ebook formats. 

This is a very well written and graphically appealing ode to open fire cooking. The authors write accessibly and clearly about the subject. It's very clear from the first page that they have the requisite expertise and knowledge and the included recipes are a lot more than just pulled pork sandwiches (though they are to be found here as well), and this is one of the few barbecue books I've seen which thoroughly discusses cooking whole animals and ash/ember cooking. 

The introduction covers materials choice, building, maintaining, and containing fires, sourcing wood, safety issues and more. The following chapters delve in depth on everything from game birds to roasting a whole hog. The recipes are scattered throughout the book. Each has an introduction, bullet list of ingredients on the right side of the page and general prep and cooking instructions. Recipe ingredient measures are given in imperial (American) units. Most ingredients will be easy to find in local grocery stores. The authors have included resources and links lists for sourcing large cuts of meats, specialty equipment, rubs, and sauces (for readers who prefer to buy them).

The book is absolutely *full* of beautiful photography, including action shots of prepping and cooking as well as atmospheric landscape shots. The food is appealing and appetizing and never overstyled or frou-frou. 

Five stars. Definitely book on barbecue and live fire cooking. There are a number of really good dessert recipes here as well, in addition to the comprehensive barbecue. Highly recommended for library acquisition, homesteaders, grill-lovers, and home cooks.

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

Escape from Yokai Land (Laundry Files #7.5)

Escape from Yokai Land is a novella in the Laundry Files by Charles Stross. Released 1st March 2022 by Macmillan on their tordotcom imprint, it's 96 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

I love the sense of gonzo out-of-control wall-to-wall hysterical madness for which the Laundry Files are well known. This is more of the same, and featuring Bob (!!! YAY!). For readers who adore paranormal bureaucratic fantasy, this is the top shelf good stuff. For fans of Aaronovitch, Doctorow, Simon Green, and the other boys in the band - this is not derivative at all, but ticks the same boxes for me as the aforementioned. It's funny, full on chaos, darkly humorous, and absolutely full of malicious compliance and government incompetence. I also love the fact that there's deep nerdiness in the form of a math/physics/programming component to magic and that the agents are really smart (and very nerdy).

For readers who are not already invested in the series, it's convoluted, and this one won't work particularly well as a standalone. The series is up to 9 books plus tie ins in the form of the New Management series, so it's a great candidate for a very long weekend's binge read. 

Four and a half stars. I recommend it to humorous SF fans unreservedly. 

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

If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk: Finding a Faith That Makes Us Better Humans

If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk is an earnest look at how compassion, support, and acceptance - the tenets professed by most religious beliefs can make us better people. Released 28th Sept 2021, it's 238 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

There are three things that struck me pretty quickly after beginning this read - first, the author John Pavlovitz (yes, the same guy who scrolls up FB feeds the world 'round) is honest and genuine, that he's intelligent, and he has a real gift for making concepts understandable. 

I've been distressed and saddened by the increasing encroachment of evangelical Christianity on politics and the fusion of that group with right wing political factions in the USA (and to a lesser degree abroad). This is a rational, well thought out collection of 18 essays of contextual counter-philosophy on making a real effort to "not be a jerk" (as we ALL are, from time to time).

The author and editors have also included insightful discussion questions for individual or group study. He has also included succinct chapter notes with citations from the New Testament which are salient to the text. I found many of the discussion questions both simple and difficult (in a good way). There is a lot of humor here too and the author is quite adept at pointing out the inherent absurdity of our cosmic reality without ever once being preachy or mean.

Five stars. This is a great handbook for how to not be a jerk. It's slanted toward people in the Christian denominations, but is in no way exclusive. Everyone will find something to ponder. My only worry/regret is that the people who need it most (radical "evangelical Christian" nationalists) will ignore the important messages here in favor of meanness of spirit and unkindness .

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

Keto Carbs Cookbook for Beginners: Favorites Made Low Carb to Kick-Start Your Diet

Keto Carbs Cookbook for Beginners is a low carb cookbook with recipes developed and curated by Lolita Carrico. Released 5th July 2022 by Callisto on their Rockridge imprint, it's 287 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.

This is a beginner friendly introduction to keto with a special emphasis on recipes which will satisfy carb lovers. The intro chapter covers the basics of the keto lifestyle/diet, including a basic primer on ketosis, macronutrients, tips, ingredients, tools, supplies, how-to. The following chapters include the recipes arranged roughly by category: breakfast, chips & snacks, pizza & handhelds, pasta & noodles, rice casseroles & bakes, desserts & sweets, and breads.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in Imperial (American) standard measurements only. There is an included conversion table with metric measures in the appendices  The nutritional information:  fat, carbs, protein, fiber content, etc are listed for the recipes as well as serving sizes.  Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in the recipes along with labels such as egg-free, nut-free, vegetarian, etc. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients (not all though, sweeteners for example, will likely need to be sourced from specialists). The sweeteners used often include erythritol, so people who have IBS or other inflammatory issues might need to proceed with caution.

The photography is not abundant; about 80% of the recipes are not illustrated, but the photographs which are included are clear and well done.  I wish there had been more photographs and serving suggestions, but I do understand that extra photography increases the price of book projects very quickly and I didn't find the lack crippling.

This is a large collection of recipes and even allowing for the fact that some of them are very similar to others in the same category, this will keep keto-cooks going for ages. Many of these can also easily be adapted to non-keto cooking. 

Four stars.

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

City of the Dead (Alex Delaware #37)

City of the Dead is the 37th Alex Delaware procedural mystery by Jonathan Kellerman. Released 8th Feb 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine 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 has been such a solid and dependable long-running series. The returning characters are so well defined at this point, with so much background written in, that they really seem to live and breathe. Dr. Delaware himself is always insightful and the "odd couple" aspects of his relationship with Milo Sturgis are fun and engaging to read. I don't think I'm familiar with a series which is this long running which doesn't have moments which feel less vital and less well written. This series has delivered solidly since 1985 which is stupendous. 

This is a modern procedural and, as in the other books, the descriptions and themes can be graphic. There are aspects of aberrant psychology or behavior and themes which may be upsetting for some readers. 

The mystery itself and all necessary back-story are written in, so it works quite well as a standalone. I recommend the whole series, but readers who are new to the characters won't have any trouble keeping up. 

Four stars. A solid mystery in a solid, very long-running series.

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

Battle of the Linguist Mages

Battle of the Linguist Mages is a super-dense and surrealist political SF/fantasy by Scotto Moore. Released 11th Jan 2022 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 448 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 such a trippy read. On the surface, it's a virtual reality mashup with a female player who dominates at a game franchise called Sparkle Dungeon. She's recruited to work on an upcoming game in the franchise and finds out that the voice-overs contain words of power which potentially have the power to control people. Under the overlying layer of the plot is the world building, with higher thought comprising a different dimension called the logosphere where sounds have power. 

There's a fair bit of navel gazing and pontificating, but overall, it's an interesting if difficult/dense read. There is a lot of theoretical linguistics and a frenetic RPG/VR machinery which won't appeal to all readers, but will absolutely knock the socks off of gamer language nerds (I mean that in a good way, you're my people, I come in peace).

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 17 hours 14 minutes and is capably narrated by Justis Bolding. She has a young midwest American accent which suits the main character. She does a good job of the different accents and although this is a difficult and often confusing read, she manages to be precise and unobtrusive. Sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Four stars. It's anything but mainstream, but for the target audience, it's quite good.

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

The Shattered Skies (The Cruel Stars #2)

The Shattered Skies is the second book in the Cruel Stars trilogy by John Birmingham. Released 11th Jan 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Del Rey imprint, it's 480 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out Sept 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 campaign space opera on an epic scale. Following directly on from book one, it's engaging and intricate. It's not particularly suited to a standalone read and readers who haven't read book one will probably want to pick up and read it first. The language and descriptions are rough and graphic. The writing, characterizations, scene descriptions, choreography, and plotting are superlative; often sublime.

This is an experienced and talented author at the top of his game and there are passages which transcend the genre and should be categorized as good literature instead of "just" good SF. There are a significant number of sly in-jokes and light humor which raised a smile.

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 15 hours and 40 minutes and is capably narrated by Morgan Hallett. She has a rather flat, generic Midwestern American (with a hint of homogeneous Central Canadian?) accent, but does a clear and well enunciated job with the read. I didn't find myself distracted by her accent at any point in the read.

Five stars. Highly recommended to fans of the genre. I would go further and recommend it highly to fans of historical/military epics. The third book in the trilogy is due out 2nd quarter of 2023.

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

Uncommon Friends: Keeping Chickens the Animal Lovers’ Way

Uncommon Friends is a compassionately written guide to helping our backyard/pet chickens live their best, happiest, and healthiest life by Grazyna Witkowska. Released 9th Jan 2022, it's 198 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

For a long while, chickens were seen as (and often legally categorized as) livestock. They weren't generally seen as pets, on a level with cats and dogs, but only as egg producers, to be butchered or discarded at the end of their productive lives. The author has interacted with her chickens to an unusual degree and has developed a deep connection with them and their individual personalities and she shares those experiences in this volume. 

This is partly an autobiographical book, with photos of the author and some of her individual chickens. She explains her own personal journey with keeping chickens and also delves into the philosophy of the interspecies connections and the relationships we can and probably should have with our own animals.

The book has a logical and easy to understand layout. Her writing style is always chatty and informal (and quite earnest, but in a nice way). There is a fair amount of content devoted to specific information about what makes a good life is as related to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and also how to facilitate the best existence for our pet chickens. For people who see animals only for their usefulness and how they can best be used by humans, there's a lot of valuable philosophy here and some hard truths about the value of life and how to coexist peacefully with others (whatever their species) for the betterment of all involved. 

There's less actual practical information about chicken keeping, building coops, feeding schedules, etc than in most chicken keeping books. All that information, including plans for coops and structures, can be found easily online. This book has a different philosophical slant. For utilitarian readers, the book contains a fair amount of "woo woo" and discussions of energy work, and some anthropomorphism. I personally didn't find it off-putting, and I think in most cases, seeing animals as beings, capable of thought and feelings (at least of pain and contentment) will help to see them as self actualizing and deserving of respect and our best care.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, for backyard chicken keepers, animal lovers, even vegans. 

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

A Deadly Affair

 A Deadly Affair is a wonderful collection of short fiction by Agatha Christie with a common theme: relationships. Released 20th April 2021 by Harper Collins on their William Morrow imprint, it's 272 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.

These 14 stories + one short essay are chosen from her oeuvre and first published between 1923 and 1950. The essay at the end is excerpted from her autobiography (1970). The stories are a mixed lot, as always, and include some familiar and some less so. Poirot makes an appearance in several stories, as do Tommy & Tuppence, Mr. Parker Pyne, and Miss Marple. 

This is a solid collection. Several of the stories were previously unfamiliar to me, many of them will be familiar to most fans. All of the included stories are in the 4-5 star range and the collection overall is a solid 5. 

The editor/publishers have included a bibliography with abbreviated publishing histories of the content in the back of the book. 

Five stars. A good selection for public or school library acquisition, as well as for fans of classic crime fiction. 

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

Bake, Borrow, and Steal (A Bakeshop Mystery #14)

Bake, Borrow, and Steal is the is the fourteenth Bakeshop cozy mystery by prolific author Ellie Alexander. Released 28th Dec 2021 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market 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. 

This installment sees the crew at Torte gearing up for a big show at SOMA to coordinate with a Shakespeare exhibit. Besides chocolate sculptures, they'll be preparing and serving a full Elizabethan feast for the exhibition audience. It doesn't take long until theft and murder enter stage left and in addition to planning and executing a flawless feast, Jules and the crew are solving crimes.

The plotting, characterization, and dialogue are representative of the genre; lighthearted, somewhat over-the-top, and used to move the narrative along. It's not a realistic procedural. There's no gritty unpleasantness, no brutality (even the violence is mostly off-scene), no blatant sexual aspects, and the language is squeaky clean and used appropriately. Although this is the 14th book in the series, it works fine as a standalone.

For fans of the genre, it's a well written and very pleasant diversion. For readers who enjoy this Bakeshop series, I can heartily recommend the author's Sloan Krause brewing mysteries. She has either a truly impressive grasp of baking, brewing, and coffee culture or she's got experts on tap to consult for her background research. Lots of "foodie" fun to be found in both series. With so many books, it's a great candidate for a long-weekend or vacation binge read.

Four stars.

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

Mimi Lee Cracks the Code (A Sassy Cat Mystery #3)

Mimi Lee Cracks the Code is the third Sassy Cat cozy mystery by Jennifer J. Chow. Released 30th Nov 2021 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is such a cute and whimsical series. Mimi Lee and boyfriend Josh are taking a weekend break with Marshmallow when the latest renter of their island accommodation turns up dead. Mimi has to get to the bottom of things, as always, accompanied by her furry Greek chorus - in the form of her genetically enhanced telepathic cat. He's got a sarcastic, wisecracking, old-guy schtick going on which some readers will enjoy (and some will not). He speaks to Mimi telepathically, but she speaks to him audibly, which leads to some inevitable "who are you talking to" scenes. Since it's a series, the unfolding information about how her psychic cat (and kitten, Nimbus) came to be, provide continuity from book to book. Although it's a series, it works well enough as a standalone read. The author is adept at providing the necessary backstory without info dumping to an annoying degree.

It's a very very light cozy and as such, there are a few slightly wonky scenes where Mimi's fluttering her eyelashes and being a damsel over her law enforcement officer nemesis defining "lividity". I know the author wanted to define the term for readers and needed a way to work it into the dialogue, but it could easily have been done without making Mimi get an attack of the vapors. 

Overall, it's a silly, cute, very light murder cozy with cats. This would be a superlative candidate for an undemanding beach/pool read. There are three books extant in the series, making it a good choice for a weekend binge read.

Four stars.

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

Murdered in Craven (The Craven County Mysteries #1)

Murdered in Craven is a capably written series starter by C. Hope Clark. Released 30th Nov 2021 by Bell Bridge Books, it's 278 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.

This combines the feel of a modern PI procedural with thriller aspects. The main protagonist is a former FBI investigator and heiress who moves back to her family's pecan groves following the unsolved murder of her father. She's soon embroiled in more investigations which might shed light on her father's death.

The characterizations are very well rendered and the characters are three dimensional and believable. There are numerous dysfunctional family relationships described in the book and some of the background was uncomfortable to read. There were a few places in the narrative where I found myself kicked out of my suspension of disbelief because of presumably out of character behavior on the part of the MC. There was some dysfunctional and, frankly, squicky behavior between Quinn and the boys (non-biologically related sort-of siblings) with whom she was raised. There were also a few places where one would expect more meticulous investigation from an FBI agent and Quinn was sloppy/lazy. 

Aside from those small issues, this is an engaging mystery with a strong protagonist and written by an experienced and gifted author. 

Four stars.  

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

Dead Drop: A historical thriller you don't want to miss... (Julia McAllister Victorian Mysteries Book 4)

Dead Drop is the fourth Julia McAllister period mystery by Marilyn Todd. Released 29th Dec 2021 by Sapere, it's 230 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 rest of the series).

This is a very well written period murder mystery with a strong, intelligent, and sympathetic female protagonist. This is the fourth book in the series, but the mystery is self contained and all background info is written into the story. The plotting is spare and tightly controlled. The technical aspects of the writing are well done (dialogue, characterization, etc) and unobtrusive. It's an engrossing read. It's not a cozy, it's serious and in some places gritty. The crime scene descriptions which Julia photographs were so well described they raised goosebumps.

It's always fun to find a new to me author and series to read. I would recommend this one to fans of period mysteries. I'm looking forward to more from this author. This is the fourth book, and the series would make a good candidate for a rainy weekend binge read. 

Four and a half stars. I really enjoyed this book.

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

Murder on the Pier (Flora Steele Mystery #2)

Murder on the Pier is the second Flora Steele storefront historical cozy by Merryn Allingham. Released 10th Nov 2021, it's 201 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 (along with the rest of the series).

This is a light British cozy featuring a female protagonist and her Watson, a local reclusive crime writer of some renown. This one ticked a lot of boxes for me. It's capably written with intelligent and appealing protagonists. The story is satisfyingly twisty with numerous disparate plot threads intertwining ever closer into a satisfying denouement and resolution. It never drags, so although simple, it's an enjoyable and engaging read. There is no bad language or triggering content. It has a nice historical nostalgic and safe vibe and was a relaxing and fun read.

Four stars. Fans of the genre will find a lot to like here. With four books extant and a 5th due out in the 4th quarter 2022, it also makes a good candidate for a weekend binge read. The mystery and resolution are self contained and the necessary back-story is written into the story so readers won't have any trouble following along with the plot if they hop in here.

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