Vinyl Resting Place - Record Shop Mystery #1

Vinyl Resting Place is the first book in a new shopfront cozy series by Olivia Blacke. Released 27th Dec 2022 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 304 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 throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This series features a trio of sisters who are re-opening their family's vanished vinyl record store with collectible records, which have come full circle and are cool again, along with a cafe and coffee shop on the premises. Things certainly don't go to plan when a body is discovered in the storage room after the big opening night party. 

The writing is engaging and the author has a solid feel for plotting and dialogue. Some of the eccentric small-town secondary characters were a bit archetypal and "trope-y" but they weren't overly intrusive or only there as window-dressing, and I wasn't yanked out of my suspension of disbelief during the read. The climax, denouement and resolution were satisfying and I really enjoyed the interplay between the sisters and their extended family and the record store/coffee shop setting was also enjoyable. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 15 minutes and is well narrated by Nicol Zanzarella. She has a well modulated alto voice and does a good job with a large cast of characters and manages to differentiate all of them well enough that they're easy to distinguish and never monotonous or confusing. Sound and production quality were high throughout.

Three and a half stars. I enjoyed the musical trivia and word play throughout. There was some repetition, and the slow burn potential romance angle felt a little pasted in, but all in all, it's a fun shopfront cozy. It'll be interesting to see how the author develops the series and characters.

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

Buried in a Good Book - By the Book Mysteries #1

Buried in a Good Book is the first By the Book cozy mystery by Tamara Berry. Released 24th May 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 336 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 throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

The subgenre of cozies which features small-town eccentric characters, usually including a local handsome law officer, and female amateur sleuth runneth over. They're wildly popular and as such, many are, frankly formulaic and predictable. THIS series starter engaged and amused me from the start. There's real chuckle-out-loud humor (which is a lot more difficult than it appears), the dialogue timing, and action are well controlled and unpredictable. 

Protagonist Tess is a middle aged successful mystery writer who has inherited her grandfather's cabin in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. The summer retreat (even without running water and electricity) appeals, especially since her marriage has recently broken up with the additional trauma of her ex-husband's rift with their teenage daughter. The trip starts out with a unexpected literal bang when a local ne'er-do-well dynamites her pond causing a deluge of stunned fish and unintentional body parts. 

I love small-town mysteries and bookish mysteries and this one combines both. It's potentially a little too gritty (body parts!) to be called a proper cozy mystery, but it's not very graphic and I had no trouble with the descriptions. 

Four stars. Definitely worth a look for fans of bookish small-town cozies. There are currently two books out, with a third due out in second quarter, 2023, making it a good candidate for a weekend mini-binge read. 

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

Welcome to Dragon Talk: Inspiring Conversations about Dungeons Dragons and the People Who Love to Play It

Welcome to Dragon Talk is an engaging and very interesting set of conversations based on the Dragon Talk Podcast by Shelly Mazzanoble and Greg Tito. Released 5th Dec 2022 by the University of Iowa Press, it's 198 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The chapters are arranged thematically by subjects and cover a very wide range of topics: what D&D and tabletop RPGs *are* how they are valuable, who plays them (and why), and a lovely selection of interviews and viewpoints from a variety of experts, therapists, researchers, and gamers on gaming who have all entered the orbit of the Dragon Talk podcast or its co-hosts. 

Well written and accessible, it's full of stories about the people from the gaming community. It's not rigorous, even the experts and research-adjunct experts who have featured on the show weren't annotated and there wasn't a bibliography or reference list, no notations, and no index, at least in the advance copy provided for review purposes. That being said, it is engaging with glimmers of profundity. I was there at D&D's nascence and played for a very long time. It's not an exaggeration to say that D&D very much helped shape the person I am. This was a nostalgic and fun read for me.

Four stars. Recommended for fans of the podcast as well as for gamers. It would be a good choice for public library acquisition, gift giving, and home library use.

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

The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes

The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes is the fourth collection of essays on the England of Sherlock Holmes by Dr. Liese Sherwood-Fabre. Released 6th Dec 2022, it's 196 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The author is erudite and has a prodigious knowledge of the canonical works of A.C. Doyle. All of these (quite excellent) essays are very much in the manner of the papers delivered and recorded in the newsletters and dinners of the various Holmes-adjacent fandoms. All of the essays are meticulously annotated with copious notes and links for further reading. 

Despite being a rigorous and serious collection of essays, they're perfectly accessible for layman readers and will provide many hours of further learning and research.

This volume is part of a series of essay collections and not a part of the author's fictional Holmes series (which is also quite good and comes highly recommended). 

Four and a half stars. 

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

A Good Dog's Guide to Murder - Paws and Claws Mystery #8

A Good Dog's Guide to Murder is the 8th Paws & Claws cozy mystery by Krista Davis. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a cute pet-friendly small-town bookish cozy with an appealingly eccentric cast of characters of both the two- and four-legged variety. Main protagonist Holly has a lot on her plate (literally and figuratively): she's dealing with her mom moving back to Wagtail, arranging the local gingerbread house contest, managing the Wagtail Inn during the busy holiday season, oh, and helping solve a murder uncovered by her suspiciously intelligent pets.

It's a cozy so the language is clean and the violence happens off-page. The author has included bonus recipes at the back of the book which are appealing and even include a few for pets (clearly specified in each recipe). The mystery is self contained in this book so it works pretty well as a standalone. There are currently 8 books extant in the series, making it a good choice for a long binge- or buddy-read. 

Four stars. Recommended for fans of light small-town cozies featuring lightly anthropomorphic intelligent pets helping solve crimes. Fans of Jenn McKinlay, Ellery Adams, and Laurie Cass will likely already have this series on their radar, but if not, it's well worth a look.

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

Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking - A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery #2

Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking is the second Caribbean Kitchen cozy mystery by Raquel V. Reyes. Released 8th Nov 2022 by Crooked Lane, 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a fun cozy mystery full of food, culture, and (as the author herself refers to it) "Spanglish" phrases. The amateur sleuth is also a cultural anthropologist with a specialization in food culture and also the host of her own youtube channel and network cooking show. The plotting moves along at a good clip and I never found myself yanked out of the story by clunky dialogue or uneven writing. There is a fair amount of Spanish in the story, more than usual, but almost all of it is either easy to understand in context or explained by character responses.

The central characters are appealing, well rounded and largely female. Most of the male characters almost seem to be included as window dressing, but the central mystery and investigation carry the story quite well. There are a phenomenal number of food descriptions included and the author has an impressive grasp of ingredients and history for the relevant dishes and their importance to the different cultures who developed them. There's a lot of really interesting food history to be found. 

The climax, resolution, and denouement are self contained in this volume, so it works well as a standalone. The violence is mostly off-page and not extreme, given that it's a cozy mystery. The main character's mother-in-law is horribly racist and just plain mean, to the degree that she made it difficult to read the scenes in which she's featured (which is about 15% of the book). If MC Miriam's husband doesn't step up and do something about his mother, they'll be divorced and their kid Manny will be in therapy in 5 years. 

The book includes several delicious and intriguing recipes which are featured in the media scenes from her cooking show.

Four stars. 

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

The Book Lover's Guide to Paris

The Book Lover's Guide to Paris is a literary guidebook to significant places in Paris and environs chosen, curated, and written by Emily Cope. Released 29th Nov 2022 by Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 136 pages and is available in paperback format. 

The guidebook is divided into thematic chapters which lead adventurous bibliophiles to landmarks which were either mentioned in, or were contemporaneous with works of literature from Victor Hugo through the current day. There's also a solid chapter on bookstores and libraries as well as where to stay. The book is enhanced throughout with full colour clear photographs which are annotated. Many of the entries also include contact information for relevant destinations which will help during planning and execution of book themed trips to Paris. 

Four stars. Well written and useful guide. 

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

What Song the Sirens Sang - Gideon Sable #3

What Song the Sirens Sang is the newest high octane adventure in the Gideon Sable series by Simon R. Green. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Severn House, it's 223 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

There are genres and, frankly, formulae, which enthusiastic readers grab and devour no matter what. On the other hand, it's comforting to know precisely what you've signed up for before opening the covers. For fans of the series, this is a worthy addition. For readers who are previously unfamiliar with the series, the mysteries, adventures, and resolutions are mostly self-contained in each volume. They're all delightful and the author is competent and prolific. 

Gideon and his crew are on the trail of a stolen artifact, reputed to contain the Siren's Song which wrought so much trouble for Odysseus and the boys in his band. Adventures ensue. There's a lot of snarky humor, action, and more action. 

Four stars. For the few fans of Butcher, Hearne, Kadrey, et. al. who don't already have this series on their radar, go get it. 

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

Illuminations: Stories

Illuminations: Stories is an interesting collection of short fiction from Alan Moore. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Bloomsbury, it's 464 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 4th quarter 2023.

Alan Moore is a peerless writer, a true and rare wordsmith. This is a collection of 9 stories of varying length; one of them, What We Can Know About Thunderman, more of a short novel than novella at 241 pages. All of them are indelibly Moore, with complex language and ideas, well rendered and all-enveloping. 

The thing which struck me during the read was that the author pulls no punches. He brings his best to the work and expects the audience to do the same. The language is richly nuanced and wonderfully wrought. The vocabulary is precise and robust. It isn't easy however. I enjoy language and precise writing. Readers who prefer easy reads might want to have a good dictionary at their fingertips. 

Solidly four stars. Difficult (not necessarily thematically) and demanding writing. Reminds a bit of the Laurie Anderson lyrics: "Good evening. Welcome to Difficult Listening Hour. The spot on your dial for that relentless and impenetrable sound of difficult music. So sit bolt upright in that straight-backed chair, button that top button, and get set for some difficult music". 

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

Bones of Holly - Sarah Booth Delaney #25

 

 

Bones of Holly is the 25th Sarah Booth Delaney cozy mystery by Carolyn Haines. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur 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 throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a very long-running cozy series with well established characters and fun convoluted mysteries which are enjoyable and full of light humor. There's a strong paranormal element (the main character is sort of haunted by her great-great grandmother's nanny, a black woman named Jitty who has Opinions and lots of cryptic advice). MC Sarah Booth Delaney is also a PI and this installment sees her drawn into a mystery around a disappearance, feuding local authors, and all set in a local holiday destination where she and her BFF Tinkie are guest judges at a Christmas tree decorating competition.

It's a very light cozy and readers should be prepared to bring a prodigious suspension of disbelief to the read. Although the mystery is self contained in this volume, the characters have developed over a very long time and if read as a standalone, expect some spoilers for earlier books in the series. With 25 (!!!) books extant at this point, it would be a great choice for a very long binge read. Readers who are already fans of Donna Andrews, Jenn McKinlay, and Ellery Adams will likely already have the series on their radar, but if not, it's a fun one.

Four stars. Cozy mystery comfort food.

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

 

 

The Vagabond's Way: 366 Meditations on Wanderlust, Discovery, and the Art of Travel

The Vagabond's Way is a thought provoking and gently written collection of meditations on life, travel, and personal philosophy collected and curated by Rolf Potts. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Ballantine imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

The book is arranged thematically around the months of the year. Monthly themes are things like: Dreaming and planning the journey (Jan/Feb), Getting started on the road (March/Apr), and the extended journey (and journey home) (Nov/Dec). The short entries are given one per day and it works very well as a one-a-day post with an interesting point to think about. The writing is accessible and, at times, quite deep. There are thoughtful entries about purpose, lifestyle, growth, and time. 

I was most impressed over the fact that the author can ruminate on these things and never be trite or superficial. The layout and graphics are very understated. There aren't any illustrations. 

Four stars. Well written. This would make a good gift for oneself or others. 

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

Death in a Blackout - A WPC Billie Harkness Mystery #1

 

Death in a Blackout is the first Billie Harkness historical mystery by Jessica Ellicott. Released 3rd May 2022 by Severn House, it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format out 27th Dec 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 well written mystery set mostly in the North of England during the early days of 1940 as WW2 is really heating up. Protagonist Wilhelmina, Billie, has moved because of the devastating loss of her mother and her father's capture as a prisoner of the war. She joins the police service as a WPC and is soon involved in untangling the death of a young woman in Hull. 

The author is adept at writing the time period believably and the settings and dialogue are immersive and nuanced. The fictional parts are written around a framework of real historical events and the mystery itself is well constructed and engineered. There are some rough spots between point A where Billie is introduced as the strong-willed but relatively poor daughter of a local church rector to point B where she's managed to establish herself in Hull and acquire a position as a WPC in the local forces. Despite the rough start, the story is absorbing and the characters well rendered.

Four stars. Although not at all derivative, fans of Keith Finney's Lipton St. Faith series will likely enjoy this series as well.

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

The Quantum Chain - Joseph Bridgeman #4

 

 

The Quantum Chain is the fourth Joseph Bridgeman time travel mystery by Nick Jones. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Blackstone, it's 350 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

I have always loved time travel stories. I devoured every episode of Dr. Who, Star Trek, every story and book about time travel with gusto. Obviously some were better than others, but I loved (and still love) them all. This series is one of the better representatives of the genre. It's full of fun history and watershed moments for the reluctant hero, hapless but plucky Joe, to right and to try and help untangle. He's an unlikely everyman hero, really relatable, muddling along the best he can manage and trying to fix what he can fix. 

I love the way Joe has developed over the last several books. After being more or less blackmailed into joining a time traveling-timeline-fixing-agency, he's finding his feet and learning to work with a partner. Although the missions are *never* as easy or problem-free as promised, they manage to pull it out in the end. It's an ensemble cast and like lots of very well written quest stories, every part is integral to the whole. The book is so cleverly constructed and I'm already looking forward to more. It's *full* of time paradoxes and the way the characters solve them are clever and believable (in context). 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of  13 hours 58 minutes and is capably narrated by Ray Porter. He does an impressive job with wide ranging geographical accents and genders. I absolutely love his voice for Vinny, who reminds me a lot of my very fond memories of Brian Glover in Mystery! as Magersfontein Lugg (Campion series). When the book started, I was afraid that Mr. Porter's very gravelly baritone would be too strong for the part (I "hear" Joe up in my head as a very put upon and almost nasal whinge sometimes) but I soon warmed to him and he's very versatile and definitely enhanced the read a lot. Sound quality and production values were high throughout the recording.

Four and a half stars. Fun, clever, and very entertaining. Five stars also for the audiobook version. This would be an excellent mood elevating choice for a series binge read. The books follow-on solidly from one another, and readers should read them in order.

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

The Ghost and the Stolen Tears - Haunted Bookshop Mystery #8

The Ghost and the Stolen Tears is the 8th Haunted Bookshop cozy mystery by Cleo Coyle. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley 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 is a well developed series with an interesting paranormal twist. Bookstore co-owner/amateur sleuth Penelope is in "contact" with the consciousness of a long departed police detective who was killed almost 70 years ago. The books are set up in a way that very very cold case mysteries from decades ago get intertwined with modern day mysteries and bookstore owner Penelope saves the day by resolving the past and the present. 

This installment sees the past and present collide around a very valuable parure which has disappeared from a local celebrity's hotel room. Soon murder complicates the situation and Penelope can't just leave it alone since the incompetent local police have her friend and sometimes employee Norma in their sights as chief suspect. 

The language is clean, the violence is low-key and off scene. It would make a good commute or work read. I really enjoyed the tie-ins with period pulp fiction and theatre. Lots of fun. The authors have done their research on the era. It's *very* light and readers must bring a prodigious suspension of disbelief to the story.

Four stars. Definitely worth a look for fans of cozy mysteries. Since there are 8 books extant in the series at this point, it would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read. They can be read in any order and work well as standalone adventures.

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

The Cat in the Christmas Tree: And Other True Stories of Feline Joy and Merry Mischief

The Cat in the Christmas Tree is a heartwarming collection of reader stories and anecdotes curated and edited by Callie Smith Grant. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Revell, it's 192 pages and is available in hardcover,  paperback, and ebook formats.

These are just as described, funny, heartwarming, and full of feline mischief. Most of the recollections and stories are 3-4 pages and readers will definitely recognize themselves in many of their own interactions with the cats in their lives. There are stories of cats playing in Christmas trees, upending decorations, and bringing joy and love (and purrs) to their humans.

The writing is variable since the stories are sent in by individual contributors, but all of them are easy to read and enjoy. The stories are all Christmas themed and feature kitties in all their mischievous glory. 

Four stars.

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

Recycling in the Garden: Reusing Everyday Items

Recycling in the Garden is a well written practical guide with ideas how to reuse and upcycle items in the garden by Angela Youngman. Due out 30th January 2023 from Pen & Sword on their White Owl imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a whimsical and fun guide full of projects for upcycling and recycling items in (and for) the garden. The author has also included useful information about resources such as water and energy and how to divert and conserve the resources to which we already have access. There are projects and ideas from small (bamboo insect hotels readers can recreate in about 10 minutes with items already likely on hand) to very large (recycled earth-pit dug greenhouse with recycled glass and materials). Not all the included photos are things which most readers will adopt at first glance. I can't imaging there are many gardeners, no matter how much they're also motor enthusiasts, who will want to turn an old scrapped auto into a raised bed garden!

There's a comprehensive index, as well as an abbreviated links and resources list included in the back of the book. 

Four and a half stars. Full of useful and clear photos and good ideas. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, allotment groups, community gardens, smallholders, and suburban gardeners.

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

Hungry Death - Cragg & Fidelis #8

Hungry Death is the 8th book in the Cragg and Fidelis historical mystery series by Robin Blake. Released 3rd May 2022 by Severn House, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. Paperback due out 27th Dec 2022 from the same publisher. 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 consistently high quality well written mystery series with engaging characters and intricately crafted mysteries. This is one of the best so far. The plot moves along at a good clip and during the read I found myself losing track of time (and reading way past my bedtime). In this adventure, Coroner Cragg is called to the scene of a dreadful familicide at a remote farm. Titus' friend and colleague, Dr. Fidelis is also drawn into murderous intrigue when an unidentified body is found at Orford Hall, the estate of a local magistrate.

The fictional mystery is written around a framework of actual historical events so skillfully that it wasn't easy to know when fact shaded over into fiction. The author is very skilled at writing believable history, and the dialogue, although not stilted or difficult to read, really is redolent of the period.

Four stars. A very good read. With 8 books extant in the series at the current point, it's an excellent choice for a long binge / buddy read. Extremely well done historical fiction is rare and this series is a delight.  

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

Jewish Flavours of Italy: A Family Cookbook

Jewish Flavours of Italy is a lovely cookbook filled with family recipes collected and curated by Silvia Nacamulli wrapped in a rich tapestry of diaspora history of the Jews in Italy. Due out 23rd May 2023 from Pen & Sword on their Green Bean Books imprint, it's 336 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

There are undeniably quite a lot of wonderful recipes here, but for me the biggest value was in the background history of the Jewish diaspora in Italy; the food was almost secondary. The author writes accessibly and authoritatively on the subject and I learned a great deal about the immigration of Jews in the area as well as how they adapted to local ingredients whilst still remaining true to their religious and cultural identity at the same time they built a strong rapport in their new homes. 

All of the recipes include commentary and background history such as where the dish originated and regional specifics. Recipe ingredients are given in a bullet list in a sidebar. Measurements are provided in metric measures with imperial (American) measurements in parentheses. The cooking directions and tutorials are written clearly and many are accompanied by multiple photos which are in colour and easy to understand. The photographers have done a stellar job of providing clear action shots without obscuring hands or utensils in the way.

Most of the ingredients will be easily found at a well stocked grocery store. Some few specialty ingredients may need to be acquired from international type food stores or sourced online. 

The author has included some conversion charts for measurements in the back of the book as well as an abbreviated bibliography and comprehensive index. Much of the book is written in Italian on one column and translated side by side in a column of English on the right side of the page. All of the recipes are written in English with only the dish names in both languages.

Five stars. A wonderfully well written, solidly useful book which would be a superlative choice for public or home library acquisition, as well as gift-giving.

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

Easy Keto Cooking: Lose Weight, Reduce Inflammation, and Get Healthy with Recipes, Tips, and Meal Plans

Easy Keto Cooking by Martina Šlajerová is is a cookbook and recipe collection full of keto compliant recipes inspired by a wide variety of cuisines. Due out 27th Dec 2022 from Quarto on their New Shoe Press imprint, it's 144 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats.

The introduction covers the basics of the physiology behind blood/glucose/and insulin, as well as an intro to the keto lifestyle/diet, including a surprisingly complete primer on ketosis, macronutrients, tips, ingredients, tools, supplies, and how-to.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in imperial (American) standard units with metric measurements in parentheses (yay!).  There's a conversion chart for metric measures in the appendices. Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are made for the most part with easily sourced ingredients (not all though, sweeteners and some base flours for example, will likely need to be sourced from specialists). Many seemed complex to me, as a relative neophyte, with a lot of ingredients. Beautifully prepared and tempting, but not recipes I would reach for on a weekday when I'm tired after work. These recipes will need some planning (weekend cooking + meal planning for the week to avoid being too tired to cook dinner? Maybe).

This is a nice 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 can also be adapted to be compliant with other specialist diets (fodmap, aip, etc). 

Four stars.

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

The Golden Swift - The Silver Arrow #2

The Golden Swift is the sequel and second book in the Silver Arrow adventure series for middle grade readers by Lev Grossman. Released 3rd May 2022 by Hachette on their Little Brown & co.Young Readers imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out in second quarter 2023. 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 an engaging and very well written adventure story for all ages. Protagonist Kate has been helping animals and restoring habitats as part of the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway, but this time she's off to try to find her Uncle Herbert who has gone missing. The book is full of interesting facts about habitats, ecology, and animals as well as a fair bit of sobering reflection on human impact on climate and the environment. The read is enhanced by line drawn illustrations throughout, rendered by Tracy Nishimura Bishop. They're whimsical and deceptively simple, with flowing lines and small details. I liked that there's quite a lot of humor written into the book, and Kate's pithy observations often surprised a chuckle out of me.

Four stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, bedtime reading, or even buddy read. 

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

City of Fortune -

 

City of Fortune is the 6th Counterfeit Lady mystery by Victoria Thompson. Released 6th Dec 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Protagonist Elizabeth is a sort of "equalizer" who is a mostly reformed con-woman who only uses her skills for good these days. She's setting into married life with her ever-honest paragon of a husband, attorney Gideon to provide an air of respectability. 

This story takes place around horses and the racing milieu is central to the plot. After a dreadful accident at the racetrack, Elizabeth is determined to get to the bottom of what's happening and find out who's responsible, and at the same time not have her cover blown as a counterfeit socialite.

The story does work well enough as a standalone and the mystery is self contained in this volume, although the characters have developed over the course of the series and some interactions will be spoiled by reading them out of order (such as Elizabeth and Gideon's marriage). The dialogue is sometimes a tiny bit stilted, but I believe that's a conscious decision for period verisimilitude on the part of the author. The author is additionally very good at making the horse racing setting believable and immersive.

Four stars. With 6 books extant in the series, it would be a good choice for a binge (or buddy) read. Definitely one for fans of historical mysteries with strong feisty female characters. 

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

Vegan Africa: Plant-Based Recipes from Ethiopia to Senegal

Vegan Africa is a well researched and curated look at plant based food and cuisine from Africa by Marie Kacouchia. Released 15th Nov 2022 by The Experiment, it's 192 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a richly, extravagantly written and beautiful collection of plant based recipes from Pan-African culture. There are a couple types of hummus not based on chickpeas (I would have bought the collection *just* for the hummus which is glorious), snacks, sauces (peri-peri!), salads, mains, and more than enough others to keep cooks going for ages.

The recipes are arranged roughly thematically: sauces, snacks, starters, mains, rice, desserts, and drinks.  Each recipe has its ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in imperial (American) units with metric measurements in parentheses (yay!). Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Nutritional info is not included in the book. The ingredients are mostly easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. Some of the more specialized ingredients and spices will need to sourced at an international or African food store.

The food styling throughout is absolutely beautiful. Photographs accompany each of the recipes and the presentations are attractive and appetizing. The index provided includes ingredients listed with referenced recipes as well as photographs in italics. The author has also included suggested menus for various occasions with relevant recipes referenced by page number.

Five stars. This is definitely a solid choice for library acquisition, for gift giving, and for cooks who want to eat less (or no!) meat without giving up flavor, texture, and taste.

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

Bake Anime: 75 Sweet Recipes Spotted In—and Inspired by—Your Favorite Anime

Bake Anime is a fun (and admittedly slightly nerdy) tutorial guide and recipe collection for anime adjacent baking by Emily Bushman, and a thematic sister volume to 2020's Cook Anime. I couldn't see any overlap in the editing/production staff, but they have a very similar vibe, although different authors. Released 8th Nov 2022 by Simon & Schuster on their Element imprint, it's 160 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

I liked the layout here. It's lighthearted and whimsical but well written and a perfectly serviceable cookbook in its own right. The introduction includes pantry lists, equipment, and some of the author's own background as a fan of anime and Japanese culture, followed by chapters arranged thematically: Japanese desserts, western desserts, and desserts based on specific characters. 

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only, with a metric/SI conversion table in the appendices. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store.  Each recipe has a heading with the dish's appearance in a specific anime show/episode.

Well written and organized, this could be a fun addition to the cooking repertoire. It would also lend itself very well to fans of meal planning or once-a-week-cooking. Most of these recipes make several servings which could easily be used for a week's lunch planning. I got out of the habit of  buying food at the cafe at work during the pandemic and these recipes have provided good mileage for avoiding boring lunches at work for me, as well as adding a lot of fun to my cooking.

Five stars. This would absolutely star in conjunction with an anime binge watching party with friends. Highly recommended for fans of anime or anime/manga culture. I could see this also being a good choice for a reluctant cook, to get them into the kitchen and making food.

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

Paper Collage Workshop: A fine artist's guide to creative collage

Paper Collage Workshop is a well written and illustrated practical guide to collage as a fine art medium. Released 8th Nov 2022 by Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint, it's 128 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

Author Samuel Price has an engaging and accessible teaching style and the whole manual has the feel of a well organized and effective workshop. The introduction covers tools, supplies, methodology, and some color theory. The introduction also shows readers how to produce reference photos (VERY useful info here), what supplies to use, and step-by-step instruction for producing finished learning projects. Project tutorials include a bullet list of tools and supplies and instructions numbered in sequential steps. 

All of the tutorials are well photographed with clear, color photos which are easy to understand and happily without hands or tools obscuring the action. Although the finished projects are clearly highly professional and artistic/painterly, a keen beginner could use the instruction contained in the book to produce works in collage from start to finish. There is an abbreviated gallery with thumbnails for inspiration included at the back of the book. There is no bibliography or index in the review copy provided for review.

Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, home artist's studio, activity/makers' groups, classroom/workshop use, and similar needs. 

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

One Foot in the Fade - The Fetch Phillips Archives #3

One Foot in the Fade is is the third Fetch Phillips noir mystery by Luke Arnold. Released 26th April 2022 by Orbit Books, it's 464 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.

This is a gritty urban fantasy noir PI tale in an impressive trilogy which is -hopefully- slated to turn into a series. In my mind, it goes to roughly the same subcategory as Glen Cook, Ben Aaronovitch (but much grittier, less humorous, and more Chandler-esque than either), John D. MacDonald (with the same melancholy tarnished knight feel), and an authentic George Sims vibe (whose oeuvre I heartily recommend and for anyone unfamiliar with this great unsung British noir writer go find his work).  The book is not derivative, however, and the author has a clear and unique voice of his own which captivated me from book one. The characters have developed well over the last two books, and the backstory is complex enough and the previous books are well written enough, that reading them before this, the third-and-hopefully-not-last book is recommended.

The plotting is meticulous and well wrought. The characterization is spot on and the author's command of dialogue is pitch perfect. This is a genuinely well written richly engaging book in a very well written series. With three books extant, it would be a good candidate for a weekend binge read.

Four and a half stars.

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

Murder at Claridge's - Hotel Mysteries #3

Murder at Claridge's is the third Hotel historical mystery by Jim Eldridge. Released 22nd April 2022 by Allison & Busby, it's 318 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. (Paperback format released in Nov 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 an engaging and well written police procedural set in London during the blitz. The main protagonist, a well-heeled Scotland Yard DCI and his colleagues are trying to solve a strangling murder in the kitchens at Claridge's. The general chaos of the blitz and a large number of refugees from other areas of Europe are complicating factors, especially when it's revealed that the victim might be German instead of Romanian as he claimed. The mystery itself is well wrought and the characters are well delineated and distinct. The story is often somewhat gritty for a historical cozy mystery, and includes on page descriptions of blood and the less salubrious realities of wartime life. I liked the relationship between DCI Coburg and his wife, Rosa, who although she's a musician, is currently driving for the war effort in the ambulance corps.

Although it's the third book in the series, the necessary character backstories are provided and the mystery itself is self-contained, so it can be read as a standalone. It's an undemanding read for fans of British historical mysteries although I found a number of anachronistic feeling bits in the dialogue and descriptions which yanked me out of the story briefly. One example was the choice of "ripping him off". With a short perusal online, it appears to have been used as early as the 12th century, however it wasn't in common vernacular until the 1960s (in America). That's a relatively small quibble however, and with three books extant in the series, it's a good candidate for an entertaining weekend binge read. 

Four stars. 

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

The Fool Dies Last - Fortune Telling Mystery #1

The Fool Dies Last is the first book in a new light paranormal cozy series by Carol Miller. Released 5th April 2022 by Severn House, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is an easy and quick read and a solid series starter. The protagonists, sisters who co-own a new-age boutique are 30 somethings, intelligent, quirky, and relatable. They're drawn into trying to solve modern crimes which have links to the long ago past. 

The setting of Asheville, North Carolina, is well written and believable, with the codicil that readers who are intimately familiar with the environs might find discrepancies which aren't obvious to readers from other areas. I liked the shopfront cozy aspect and there's an intriguing paranormal subplot with irascible ghosts in the attic which I hope the author explores more deeply in future volumes.

Much of the characterization, especially secondary characters, is sketched in lightly. My only other quibble with the book is that I found the motive for the murders strained the bounds of credibility. Readers should be prepared to bring a healthy suspension of disbelief. (Then again, there are ghosts in the attic, so there's that). 

Three and a half stars. Eminently readable and enjoyable. The second book in the series was released on 6th Dec. 2022, making this a good candidate for cozy readers for a mini-binge read. 

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

By the Book - Meant to Be #2

By the Book is a charmingly written romance and the second Meant To Be novel by Jasmine Guillory. Released 3rd May 2022 by Hyperion Avenue (Disney), it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a sweet and completely escapist romantic modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast with an intelligent and strong protagonist Izzy as Belle and bad boy Hollywood hunk Beau as the Beast. I loved the plot centered on writing and the cutthroat publishing industry. It was sweet but not cloying and the dialogue really had me cheering for a happy ending. 

It was predictable but in a comforting way. I smiled throughout the whole read. I also liked the healthy friendship between Izzy and BFF Priya. The book (for the most part) is free from the cattiness and subtle undermining that I feel is really prevalent in romances with strong female leads. Izzy isn't dumb, she's appealingly intelligent, and she stands up for herself, but doesn't ever come across as overbearing or arrogant.

Four and a half stars. This is a bookish and fun romance. For younger/more sensitive readers, there is some profanity and lots of "kissy bits" but nothing really explicit. 

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

The Memory of Her The Gentleman Spy Mysteries #3

The Memory of Her is the third Gentleman Spy historical mystery/romance by Bianca M. Schwarz. Released 5th April 2022, it's 288 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 is a starkly written, often dark, espionage romance set in Britain in the very late Regency period (ca 1823 - which to be pedantic is 11 years -after- the Regency, but that's a minor quibble). The main romance at the beginning of this book (Henry and Eliza's) was set up in the first two book and is at an end due to his expected marriage. She isn't and never was an acceptable spouse and they've morphed into friend who used to be lovers at this point. Her assignment is to help with the rehabilitation of another agent, Allen Strathem, who was Henry's best friend and also secretly in love with Eliza.

Due to the extensive list of dramatis personae and their sometimes torturously involved interconnections, this book works better as part of the series and not as a standalone. The writing is consistently high quality and readable. Readers should be aware of the inclusion of direct and sometimes explicit descriptions of physical torture, sexual trauma, and mental illness. 

Four stars. Well written and plotted. Quite dark in places.

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

A Fatal Overture An Ella Shane Mystery #3

A Fatal Overture is the third Ella Shane historical cozy mystery by Kathleen Marple Kalb. Released 29th March 2022 by Kensington, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

Set in the early 20th century, Ella is an opera diva and engaged to British royalty. Whilst they're ironing out the basic conditions of their married existence as a couple (she has no intentions of giving up her career which his family sees as deeply problematic), murder and attempted murder intrude in the negotiations threatening to upset the apple cart forever. 

Although the author is good at providing backstory, I would recommend readers begin with the earlier books in the series. There's a fair bit of character development which will be missed by hopping into the series here. 

Quite a significant proportion of the action in this installment is spent on descriptions of food and clothing, to the detriment of the mystery. For readers who enjoy cozy drama with a side of mystery, this will suit. The mystery itself was mostly straightforward and mostly investigated off-page. 

All in all, it's well written and the author has a good grasp of descriptive prose and plotting. The dialogue is a bit anachronistic in places (especially the British aunties/mother), but overall harmless and good fun. 

Three and a half stars. Eminently readable. 

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

The Girl and the Moon Book of the Ice #3

The Girl and the Moon is the third book in the Book of the Ice epic fantasy trilogy by Mark Lawrence. Released 26th April 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley Ace imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a powerfully written story set in a cohesive and immersive world. The author is talented and quite adept at not just descriptive prose and believable characterization, but also with the nuts and bolts craft of writing. It's a substantial book and once I sat down to read it, the world fell away and I was surprised to discover the amount of time which had gone by when I was finished. 

Although it's somewhat self contained and the author does a good job of bringing readers up to speed (there's even a precis before the beginning), it works much better as part of the trilogy. It's set in a cohesive universe which contains much of the author's oeuvre, and although it's recommended to have read the two books in this trilogy before beginning the third, it's not necessary to hunt down the other trilogies beforehand. 

Five stars. Definitely one of my best reads for 2022, this would be a great choice for public library acquisition and for the home library. 

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