Dad and Daddy's Big Big Family

 

Dad and Daddy's Big Big Family is a charming and well written illustrated children's book by Seamus Kirst. Due out 9th May 2023 from the American Psychological Association on their Magination Press imprint, it's 32 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is such an appealing book for the youngest readers and the adults in their lives. It explores the meaning of family and follows an extended family through the experiences of young cousins Noah and Harper at their family reunion. The story, from Harper's point of view, examines what it means to be family (do we all have to live in the same house?), to how families can be made of people we're biologically related to, or step-families, or blended families; all kinds of families. 

It's fully illustrated throughout, and the art by Karen Bunting is simple and colorful, with lots of appealing details, inviting a longer look. The text is simple and well done, with good age appropriate explanation which will be easy to understand. 

Five stars. Beautifully written and illustrated. This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, classroom reading, or gifting. 

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

Unnatural Ends

Unnatural Ends is a well written historical locked room murder mystery by Christopher Huang. Due out 20th June 2023 from Inkshares, it's 402 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. 

This is a terrifically creepy and atmospheric locked room murder mystery set in the early interwar period in Yorkshire. Three siblings are drawn home from far away to attend their father's funeral after his bludgeoning murder. The family estate is isolated and the attendant village obsequious but the whole setup is odd and off-kilter. 

To add to the bizarre situation, the deceased man has left a will saying "In
the event that my death should be due to unnatural causes, I charge my children with the task of identifying my killer.". Thus follows alternating chapters of narrative from the PoV of the principal players.

The pacing in the first half of the book is glacial, and is noteworthy for the deliciously lyrical (but unrelentingly creepy) writing. The tension ratchets up and it takes a while before readers have more than the vaguest glimpse of anything happening under the surface. The book does move along much more quickly in the second half and there's quite a lot of psychological horror involved in the denouement and resolution.

Quite a significant portion of the mystery is way out there. Readers should bring a healthy suspension of disbelief. That being said, however, the prose is luminous and quite often sublime. 

Four stars. 

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

Hiss & Tell - Mrs. Murphy #31

Hiss & Tell  is the 31st (!!!) Mrs. Murphy mystery by Rita Mae Brown. Released 28th March 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Bantam book imprint, it's 304 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.

I've long been a fan of the author, and enjoyed her cozy Mrs. Murphy series as well as her more serious writing.  This anthropomorphic cozy series is a pillar of the genre (and the author a prolific and dependable source of cozy reads in several disparate series).

The dialogue and writing are pitch perfect.  Typically for Ms. Brown, the writing is solidly comfortable and engaging.  Reading her books is almost like visiting with an old friend you haven't seen for a while; you just pick up where you left off the last time, even if you haven't seen them for ages.

This is a series with a vast returning cast of characters.  The author has provided a comprehensive dramatis personae section at the beginning of the book in case the reader needs to sort of who is who.  That being said, it is the31st book in the series and would probably be best read roughly in order. The story is told in alternating flashbacks from the modern day to the 18th century. The dates are given in the chapter headings, so it's no trouble to keep the intertwined stories straight. It's a testament to the author's technical ability that she manages to write period appropriate dialogue alternated with modern times without giving the reader whiplash or managing to lose the disparate plot threads.

Readers should be aware that the author does not shy away from the admittedly accurate period depiction of slaves, racial violence, and slavery, which can be somewhat jarring for a cozy book. It's probably edifying to talk about openly, but especially in light of the recent racial upheavals, I found it especially sad that we've not managed to make much of an appreciable difference in following 230 years.

I personally love anthropomorphic mysteries, but fair warning, if talking animals bug you, this probably isn't the series for you.  The book also does a superlative job of giving a glimpse into Virginia hospitality and etiquette and the 18th century culture parallel to the modern day as well as providing a glimpse of daily life in the area both in the 18th century as well as the modern period.

Four stars.

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

The Decomposition of Jack

The Decomposition of Jack is a very well written middle grade chapter book by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb. Released 11 Oct 2022 by HarperCollins on their Children's imprint, it's 208 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 author has created an engaging and poignant tale about a boy navigating his life whilst being known to his peers as the "Roadkill Kid", because he helps his mom with her scientific research on decomposition and environmental impact by collecting roadkill and observing the decomposition process in their backyard. At the same time, he's trying to find his way amidst the fallout from his parents' recent divorce, make progress in school, and have some sort of social life. 

The author writes believably about being an awkward, slightly nerdy kid in an unforgiving social situation. She doesn't sugar coat how cruel kids can be to one another, or how clueless and self absorbed adults can be either. Additionally, she's included a wealth of really interesting conservation themed info about the life-death-life process and how the natural environment works. She has included a useful and interesting resource/links list at the end of the book for further reading.

Four stars. Very well done; sort of grossly fascinating in some places. 12 year old me would've been utterly fascinated by this book.

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

First in Series Spring 2023 Sampler

 

First in Series Spring 2023 Sampler is a sneak-preview collection of 7 new mystery series starters. Released 1st Feb 2023 by Crooked Lane it's roughly 204 pages. This is a publisher publicity media item and should be able to be downloaded free from most major retailers.

The collection includes a few chapters from each of 7 upcoming (or recently released) cozy mysteries by:

• An Irish Castle Mystery by Ellie Brannigan
• An American in Scotland by Lucy Connelly
• A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen
• Final Cut by Marjorie McCown
• How the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder
• A Cryptic Clue by Victoria Gilbert
• Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts

All of them are appealing, and all of the included mysteries are reviewed (or scheduled) on my blog.  The full mysteries themselves are all in the 4-4.5 star range, all are entertaining and well crafted. There are some good series releases coming up in 2023 to keep cozy mystery lovers entertained.

Definitely worth downloading the collection to test sample the upcoming books. Four and a half stars for the collection as a whole.

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

Murder at the Majestic Hotel - Stella and Lyndy Mystery #4

 

 

 

Murder at the Majestic Hotel is the fourth Stella & Lyndy historical cozy by Clara McKenna. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Kensington, it's 304 pages and available in hardback, ebook, and audio formats.  Paperback edition due out in second quarter 2023. Set in Edwardian England, lead character Stella is one of the 'Million Dollar princesses' who married into the English aristocracy in the late 19th - early 20th centuries.

The book is firmly in the cozy historical murder mystery genre with a romance subplot. As such, the murder is bloodless and the language is clean. There is no graphic violence or sexual content. There is strongly implied congress between the titular series protagonists, who are newlyweds (it's not graphic, and doesn't occur on page). The only cursing is an occasional 'bloody' or 'damn'; nothing to make a maiden auntie blush.

This is a solidly engaging and entertaining series. The author is a gifted storyteller with a sure feel for characterization and descriptive narrative. The relationship between Stella and Viscount Lyndhurst which started at an odd pace in the first book has found a great footing and they're newly married at the start of this one. There are a number of anachronistic turns of phrase, but all in all, the author has done her background research and the book moves along to a satisfying, if slightly telegraphed, denouement.

Four stars. I would recommend the book for fans of cozy mysteries looking for a historical series (Downton Abbey meets Daisy Dalrymple). Although it's the fourth book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone; with the codicil that the characters have developed throughout and will spoil earlier books in some ways. It would make a good candidate for a binge or buddy read. 

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

Back to the Garden

Back to the Garden is an atmospheric and brilliantly written standalone mystery thriller by Laurie R. King. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Bantam 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.

Fans of the author already know that she's prolific, competent (often shading into sublime), and genuinely talented with setting and characterization. There are times during reading when the only appropriate response is to close the book, look into the middle distance, and ponder what one has just read. This book is more prosaic in subject and character than her well known Holmes & Russell books, but no less engaging and entertaining. 

From the prologue chapter to the gradual buildup of layers (and intervening years) of a resurrected cold case investigation, through to the satisfying denouement and resolution, the author does a masterful job with the writing. Rough(ish) language, but average for a procedural mystery. Some graphic violence (bludgeoning deaths, sexual murders, serial killer, etc), but again, not used egregiously.

Four solid stars. Hope the author revisits the characters in future. 

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

The Happy Home: The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Home that Brings You Joy

The Happy Home: The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Home that Brings You Joy is an illustrated style & design guide for home decor by Chelsea Foy. Due out 25th April 2023 from Sasquatch Books, it's 176 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a well presented and curated guide with usable info for planning and designing a home environment that suits the reader and brings them satisfaction. It's full of practical info, from tools and supplies lists to have on hand for minor repairs, to selecting and sourcing decor. 

The book is arranged thematically: uplift, calm, energize, comfort, empower, express. The chapters contain small mini-tutorials for foraging bouquets, stocking drinks cabinets, gathering mismatched (but pretty) glassware, and more. The author manages to make the decor look uncluttered and fun, and I'm not entirely sure how she manages it. The chapters are *full* of tips and tricks for managing clutter and destashing. 

The philosophy is generally informal and unfussy and "real". There aren't a lot of stringent rules (like Marie Kondo's 15 books rule? No can do). The author has included some sourcing lists and resources in the back of the book. Retailers are mostly slanted toward readers in North America, but supplies and items can be thrifted or purchased with online and local searches wherever they are located. 

The photography is stellar and lifts the quality of the book significantly. 

Four and a half stars. This would be a good choice for public library acquisition and home use. 

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

Dark All Day -

 

Dark All Day is the third Walking Shadows SF-noir alternate 1930s timeline PI murder mystery by Brenden Carlson. Released 14th March 2023 by Dundurn, it's 392 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is an engaging book in a much beloved subgenre. There's a clearly and precisely wrought noir vibe. The androids and their often fraught interactions with humans are drawn (mostly) sympathetically and believably. The darkness (often literal) and desperation of the Lower City of NY is a brooding and distinctive presence throughout which adds tension and some dread.  There are a lot of Philip K. Dick and Asimov nuances floating around and it's an engaging and immersive read. With that being said, the book is not entirely unproblematic in places. There are several aspects I found myself struggling with. There is -so- much gratuitous violence. The main (human) protagonist Elias Roche murders witnesses, thugs, and various bystanders, willy nilly. He's a super dangerous guy. Frank Castle (the Punisher) would be well served to cross to the other side of the street if he sees him coming. I get that it's part of the gritty noir vibe, but in my opinion the author does a superlative job of calling up the mean streets of New York without the almost comically superfluous body count. There are very few females mentioned in the entire book (the female director of the FBI makes an appearance in the story), there are some mentions of whorehouses, former love interests, and various secretaries but not much substantive. Again, the author is adept enough that the omission is certainly intentional to better call up the 1930s noir vibe, but it seemed unnecessary in context. 

Other reviewers have done a good job of providing a precis of the plot which is well built up with a fairly large cast of characters and a lengthy and complex back story/setting. The language is rough overall (and somewhat anachronistic - I'm pretty sure 1930's cops didn't drop the "f" word nearly as often as occurs in this volume). I enjoyed the characterizations (especially Roche's android partner, Allen). I really really enjoyed the vibe (pitch perfect!). It's not flawless, but it certainly is well written and diverting. 

Four stars. I would recommend it unhesitatingly to fans of unredacted Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and James M. Cain. Readers should keep in mind that this is the third book in an ongoing, relatively complex, series and it doesn't work particularly well as a standalone. Strongly recommended to read the books in order. The first book in the series, Night Call, is available in paperback and ebook formats from the same publisher.

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

 

Roadside Homicide - River Sutton #1

Roadside Homicide is the first River Sutton cozy mystery by Nancy Basile. Released 26th June 2021, it's 140 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. The second book in the series, A Fatal Fumble, is also currently available on KU. There's a novella with the same main character which is available on the author's website as well. 

This is a fun and engaging small town cozy set in West Virginia. Web traffic analyst Robin is home visiting her family in Sutton River as the maid of honor in her sister's wedding. She runs into lots of familiar faces from her past and not all of them stir up happy memories.

There's a very central slow burn romance element with the local handsome law enforcement officer, naturally. I liked that Robin wasn't helpless or prone to swooning helplessly. She makes quite a few questionable decisions, not out of the ordinary for cozies. The denouement and resolution weren't overly surprising, and it's not a huge head scratcher "whodunit", but the author does tie up all the loose ends satisfyingly. Both books in the series work perfectly well as standalones.

It's a pleasant, light read, ideal for commute or travel reading. The language is squeaky clean and there's no sexual content whatsoever. It's set in a fictitious town in northern WV and the author seems to be intimately familiar with the area.

Three and a half stars. Well done, and the series seems to be developing well. Cozy mystery comfort food.

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

Hand-painted Textiles: A Practical Guide to the Art of Painting on Fabric

Hand-painted Textiles is an accessible and information rich guide with tutorials for surface painting on fabric by Sarah Campbell. Due out 18th April 2023 from Bloomsbury on their Herbert Press imprint, it's 176 pages and will be 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.

This is a well written guide which is logically arranged and useful. It reads like a precisely planned and run workshop with a skilled facilitator/teacher. The chapters are arranged thematically: tools and supplies, making marks/getting started, making stamps, masking areas, stencils, resists, silks, pattern and color placement, matching and coordinating, bleach, some tutorials, and lots (and lots) of ideas for utilizing the fabrics, including some beautiful examples of painted fabric which is further embellished with embroidery and beadwork. I liked that the author doesn't push one particular brand and brand names are figleafed/obscured in tutorial photos.

Five stars. The book is absolutely stuffed full of inspirational and useful ideas and projects. It would be a great choice for public or school library acquisition, maker's groups, activity groups, classroom/workshop instruction, and the home studio. 

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

The Dead Will Rise - Simon Westow #5

 

The Dead Will Rise is the fifth Simon Westow historical mystery by Chris Nickson. Released 7th March 2023 by Severn House, it's 291 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. 

This is such a skillfully written series. Protagonist thief-takers (bounty hunters/ private investigators) Simon and his partner Jane are employed by a wealthy businessman and tasked with finding the resurrectionists who have stolen the body of his employee's daughter.  They're outclassed in terms of power and deceitfulness by influential men in Leeds and are in danger of losing their freedom and lives throughout the book. There's a real and palpable sense of the setting and narrative menace throughout much of the book and the writing is very high quality and engaging. It is redolent of the time period (1820's) and setting (Leeds and environs) without sacrificing readability.

It's written around a framework of actual events so skillfully that it's difficult to tell when fact shades over into fiction. The author is technically competent and (happily) quite prolific. There are now 4 books extant in the series, making this a good candidate for a long weekend binge or buddy read. 

The books -are- quite realistic and this one is no exception. The author has a very realistic writing style and describes the less salubrious facts of life in the early 19th century unflinchingly. This book deals with the stark, brutal, and all-too-often short lives of the inhabitants, even relatively financially well-to-do. 

One of the main characters, Jane, has a very sad back-story, and much of the plot of the book revolves around her past, her present, and her (scarily competent) redemptive development. I love her character, but she's often quite frightening. I was impressed by the author's ability to write a young female character and do it very well. There are emphatically no perky anythings here, no bodice ripping, and absolutely zero flirty eyelashes to be found. 

Four and a half stars. Definitely one for lovers of well-crafted mysteries. I would heartily recommend it to fans of Hambly's Benjamin January and Peters' Cadfael (although different time periods and settings, obviously). 

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

 

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill

The Fairy Bargains of Prospect Hill is a well written fantasy fable by Rowenna Miller. Due out 28th March from Hachette on their Redhook imprint, it's 416 pages and will be 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well told fairy tale with traditional fae and a pair of sisters whose family have always lived on the edge of magic and have only used small innocuous charms to find lost items or ensure the hens keep laying. With much bigger conflicts to resolve, Alaine seeks to make a serious bargain with the fair folk to rescue her sister from an abusive marriage and save her family farm. 

The first half of the book is slow and quite distressing, full of spousal abuse and hopelessness. I found it difficult to read in places. The prose is compelling and very well wrought and the second half of the book moves at an accelerating pace. The denouement and resolution are satisfying and beautifully written.

Four stars. Enchanting and sometimes difficult.

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

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone - Ernest Cunningham #1

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone is the first Ernest Cunningham humorous mystery by Benjamin Stevenson. Released 17th Jan 2023 by HarperCollins on their Mariner imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in hardcover, large print 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is such a clever and well rendered work full of quirky humor and giggle-out-loud prose. Everyone in narrator Ern's extended family (including in-laws, uncles, step-siblings, and siblings) has killed someone at some point. A family reunion at a ski-chalet is the perfect closed circle remote setting for murder. There have been comparisons to Clue and Knives Out, and those are both apt and inevitable. It's not at all derivative, but it does have the same vibes of whimsy and camp that are also present in the aforementioned. 

It's an impressively wide ranging cast of characters, and although the book's first person narrative takes some effort, readers are well repaid in the form of fast, sharply funny, and perceptive commentary from the narrator. Ernie continually breaks the fourth wall, which some readers will find annoying and repetitive, and which seemed personally to be just on the right side of comedic. 

Four stars. Well written, clever, at certain points sublimely funny, and entertaining. 

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

Racing the Light - Elvis Cole and Joe Pike #19

Racing the Light is the 19th Elvis Cole & Joe Pike PI mystery by Robert Crais. Released 1st Nov 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Putnam imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format scheduled for release in 2nd quarter 2023 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 solidly entertaining and very well established series. At this point, the primary returning characters are so well fleshed out that they live and breathe. The plot is packed with story threads: a kidnapping, the world of podcasts, conspiracy theories, corrupt politics, dodgy ruthless business cartels, the adult film industry, and the seedier elements of Los Angeles. There is rough (R-rated) language, and some graphic violence, typical for the genre.

As always, it's well written and fast paced. The author definitely knows the technical aspects of his job very well. Although it's the 19th (!!) book in the series it works well enough as a standalone. Due to the excellent overall quality and length of the series, they're all highly recommended. It would make an excellent choice for a long binge/buddy read, as well as public library acquisition.

Fans of Michael Connolly, John Sandford, and Lee Child will likely already have this series/author on their radar, but if not, there's a lot to like here.  

Four and a half stars. Excellent read.

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

A Spy at Hampton Court - Kit Scarlett Tudor Mysteries #3

 

A Spy at Hampton Court is the third Kit Scarlett Tudor mystery by Adele Jordan. Released 23rd Dec. 2022 by Sapere Books, it's 254 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. The other books in the series (now up to 4 books, with a fifth due out in June 2023), are also currently available on KU. 

This is a spy/espionage thriller set in the late Elizabethan period. Political machinations and currying favor in the court of the queen can cause dangerous, even deadly, fallout. One of the more valuable and competent operatives in the employ of potentially untrustworthy spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham is an intelligent and capable female protege called Kit Scarlett. She and her Scottish colleague (and more?) Iomhar again are set to foil an assassination attempt against the aged and unwell Queen Elizabeth. They're sent on a mission to uncover and retrieve details of a treasonous plot to destroy Hampton Court palace, the main residence of Queen Elizabeth. It's another well written installment to this excellent historical series.

The author is quite capable, and the characters are three dimensional and believable. Although part of a series, necessary backstory is written into the story, so it works well enough as a standalone. The dialogue (of necessity) is written to be entirely accessible to modern readers, and happily the author has managed to avoid glaring modern anachronisms. The adventure is engagingly well written around a framework of actual people and events from the period. It's skillfully interwoven and not always easy to see where real history shades into fiction.

Four stars. With 4 books extant currently and a fifth due out soon, this would be a great choice for a series binge/buddy read. Fans of Ariana Franklin, Andrew Swanston, and SJ Parris will find a lot to enjoy here.

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

Murder in the Cathedral - Reverend Mother Mystery #9

Murder in the Cathedral is the 9th Reverend Mother historical mystery by Cora Harrison. Released 6th Sept. 2022 by Severn House, it's 224 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. 

This is such a well written series with well constructed fair-play plots. The author has an impressive versatility and this is one of several disparate series in different genres, and a consistently good one. The author is masterful with atmosphere and setting, and the book is full of the brooding poverty, classism, and culture of 1920s Ireland. 

It's not a cozy mystery, and there are potentially distressing plot elements such as the poisoning death of a child, violence, and despair of which more sensitive readers should be aware. It is exceedingly well written and paced, and the climax, denouement, and resolution are well done, albeit melancholy.

Four and a half stars. This is an enjoyable read and would make a good choice for fans of historical mysteries. It would also make a nice candidate for a buddy or binge read. Fans of Anne Perry, Charles Todd, and Rhys Bowen will find a lot to enjoy here.

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

The Ink of Elspet - The Inkwell Chronicles #1

The Ink of Elspet is an exciting and well written adventure fantasy for middle grade readers and the first Inkwell Chronicle by J.D. Peabody. Released 13th Sept 2022 by Hachette on their Worthy Kids imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 2nd quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is such a rollicking, action driven adventure for all-ages. There's a real and palpable sense of danger throughout and the main protagonists (a brother & sister pair) who are on a mission to save their missing dad, are assisted along the way by some very famous authors, The author has a lot of gently imparted wisdom about the nature of family, loyalty, bravery, honesty, and accepting (and giving) help uncritically. 

The writing is exciting and well wrought without being preachy or precious. The kids are appealingly resourceful and creative. Although the publisher's imprint is known for showcasing Christian allied writers, there's no proselytizing here, apart from a short fervent prayer on the part of Bea, the fact that their dad is a vicar, and the inclusion of some fairly famously religious authors, including Tolkien. (The book is set in post WW2 Britain, with short journeys to other locales). 

The art is well done and engaging. I loved all of the whimsical touches and creativity (it's a book about creativity). Things like a giant ridable pigeon named Ermengarde, Dorothy Sayers on a motorcycle with a sidecar, and a vicar who draws awesome comic books, added a lot to the read and balanced out some of the scary bits. 

Four stars, this would be a wonderful choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, and reading circles. 

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

The Gentlewoman Spy - Kit Scarlett Tudor Mysteries #1

The Gentlewoman Spy is a series starter in a new historical mystery series by Adele Jordan. Released 8th Aug 2022 by Sapere Books, it's 306 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links 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. The other books in the series (now up to 4 books, with a fifth due out in June 2023), are also currently available on KU. 

This is a spy/espionage thriller set in the Elizabethan period. Political machinations and currying favor in the court of the queen can cause dangerous, even deadly, fallout. One of the more valuable and competent operatives in the employ of spymaster Sir Francis Walsingham is an intelligent and capable female protege called Kit Scarlett. 

The author is quite capable, and the characters are three dimensional and believable. The dialogue (of necessity) is written to be entirely accessible to modern readers, and happily the author has managed to avoid glaring modern anachronisms. The adventure is engagingly well written around a framework of actual people and events from the period. It's skillfully interwoven and not always easy to see where real history shades into fiction.

Four stars. With 4 books extant currently and a fifth due out soon, this would be a great choice for a series binge/buddy read. Fans of Ariana Franklin, Andrew Swanston, and SJ Parris will find a lot to enjoy here.

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

Dear Little Corpses - Josephine Tey #10

Dear Little Corpses is the 10th Josephine Tey mystery by Nicola Upson. Released 9th Aug 2022 by Crooked Lane Books, 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. 

The series is written around real life history, with verifiable political and news stories of the time seamlessly interwoven into the narrative.  I have been most impressed with Ms. Upson's ability to place her characters peripheral to real history and really allow the reader to feel like they're there. There are distressing themes of child disappearance and the mass evacuations which took place in England at the beginning of the second world war.

Although it's the 10th book in the series, the mystery is self-contained in this volume. There are a number of character arcs which are developed in previous books which will be spoiled by being read out of order; and the series as a whole is so well done that it will repay being read in order (but it's not strictly necessary)

Having read the series (and looking forward to new installments), one thing that has impressed me very much is the author's facility with a really well planned and executed story arc. They're all well written, enjoyable books.  The dialogue is pitch perfect, the characters and setting are stellar, the writing is great, and the plot adheres to the 10 commandments of detective fiction (the reader gets all the info to 'solve' the crime, no hidden perpetrators, no heretofore hidden 'evil twins' etc etc).

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of  10 hours and 3 minutes and is beautifully narrated by Helen Lloyd. Her voice is well modulated, precise, and very easy to listen to. She does a virtuoso job of the wide ranging dialects for the characters and the dialogue is crisp and well delivered. Sound and production values are high quality throughout. 

Four and a half solid stars for the narrative, five for the audiobook.

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

Bad Day Breaking - Bad Axe County #4

Bad Day Breaking is the 4th procedural mystery in Bad Axe County by John Galligan. Released 30th Aug 2022 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 336 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. 

This is a very well written procedural novel with a returning cast of characters including local law enforcement, some of their family members, and a few eccentric small-town notables. Set in a rural area of Wisconsin, it's both isolated and remote enough to render it something of a closed circle/locked room setup. A cult has moved into the local environs and town inhabitants are very unhappy, bordering on panic. Local sheriff Heidi has a stressful and unmanageable PR crisis to deal with which is definitely not improved by the discovery of a murdered cult member with a slashed throat. A winter storm has inconveniently made her town even more isolated than normal.

The author is wonderfully adept with dramatic tension and plotting, and the prose sings in places. His writing is sublime, and unexpected in a police procedural thriller. It's a western-ish story and will likely appeal to current fans of Craig Johnson, Jeffery Deaver, and Dennis Lehane. 

Four stars. Very very well done. 

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

Lights...Camera...Murder! - A Doc Holliday Mystery #3

 

Lights...Camera...Murder! is the third Doc Holiday mystery by Loretta C. Rogers. Released 17th Aug 2022, it's 212 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. 

Dr. Tullah Holliday is a veterinarian who winds up assisting yet another investigation when a death occurs on the site of a local film production company on location in her rural Kentucky town. It's an ensemble cast of well drawn characters including Dr. Holliday, her father (the local sheriff), her grandmother (the town mayor), and her veterinary assistant, Ella.

The author is adept at characterization and setting. It's a fast read and very engaging. There's also a significant paranormal element which ties into the Cherokee belief system and Dr. Holliday's own intuitions and insights as the investigation proceeds. It's not a large part of the plot, but it is there. There's also some -very- questionable medical plot tie-ins concerning sexually transmitted diseases. I can only assume the author confused HPV with chlamydia and it made it through the editing process without question. That yanked me out of the story. I suspect it might not be a problem for most readers who don't work in histopathology; but it is inaccurate as written. (80% of humans will acquire HPV in their lifetimes, it clears without any treatment or intervention in over 90% of cases. In fact, most people never know they've had it. Chlamydia on the other hand....).

With three books extant in the series at this point, it would be a good choice for a weekend binge or buddy read. 

Four stars. 

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

The Plot and the Pendulum - Library Lover's Mystery #13

The Plot and the Pendulum is the 13th Library Lovers cozy mystery by Jenn McKinlay. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

 This is a bookish cozy with an ensemble cast of librarians and library allied folks. There's a spooky mansion with an incredible library being donated to the local community library, a disappearing cat, secret rooms, and a long ago disappearance cold case for Lindsey and co. to solve. There are lots of classic book tie ins and title-dropping typical for library cozies. The author has also included a selection of autumn themed vegetarian recipes (figs in a blanket, sweet potato casserole, and radish chips). The author has also included a chapter excerpt from the 7th Hat Shop mystery, Fatal Fascinator.

The unabridged audiobook version has a run time of 7 hours and 4 minutes and is narrated by Allyson Ryan. This book has a fairly large cast and for the most part, Ms. Ryan does a credible job of keeping the voices for each character distinct and recognizable. She has a standard American accent and her voice has a slightly nasal quality, but it isn't obtrusive, and she does a good (neutral) job with the narration. Sound and production quality are high throughout.

It's a cozy, so the violence is toned down and the language is quite clean. There's a creepy gothic vibe throughout much of the book, but it's not too scary. The denouement and resolution are well done and self contained in this volume so it works well enough as a standalone.

Four stars. With 13 books in the series, it would make a good choice for a long binge read. 

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

A Christmas Candy Killing - Killer Chocolate #1

A Christmas Candy Killing is the first in a new shopfront cozy series by Christina Romeril. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Crooked Lane, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook format. Paperback format due out in 4th quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a promising start to a comfortable easy-to-read small-town "shopfront" holiday cozy with a pair of appealingly intelligent twin female protagonists who own a shop featuring everyone's favorite combo: chocolate and books. An elderly neighbor who claims that a real-life killer has taken up residence in town turns up murdered and so the sisters are soon on the case to solve the mystery and clear their names.

As with most cozies, the emphasis is on the characters and the puzzle. The crimes are described off-scene and without being too graphic. The language is clean and there's no gruesome content. The subplot threads are skillfully entwined into a satisfying climax and resolution. Although I do confess I figured out "whodunnit" before the end, I still enjoyed it very much. I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series (due out in late 2023).

Four stars. Definitely one for shopfront cozy fans. It's full of book and series name drops and it's always fun to find new authors to follow. The author has also included an intriguing detailed recipe for pear ganache bonbons, including instructions for everything from tempering the chocolate to making the forms and the pear ganache to fill them.

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

Barnum's Angel - The Pale Chronicles #1

Barnum's Angel is a compelling and well written fantasy series opener by Len Boswell. Released 6th Oct 2022, it's 285 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. The second book in the series, The Barnacle's Son, will also be available on KU after release in 3rd quarter 2023. 

Well written alternate history speculative fiction is a joy, and this is quite a good one. The characters are three dimensional and believable, the background settings are immersive and complete, and the dialogue is witty and flows well. Darwin and P.T. Barnum figure heavily, and the secondary characters, settings and occurrences are so well intertwined around a framework of real history that it's not always clear where real history shades over into fiction.

This would make a nice series for fans of historical fantasy, alternate history worlds, political history, and fans of the Victorian fantasy/mutant subgenre (with dragons). I was blown away by the depth of verisimilitude and world building. 

Four and a half stars. Really quite good. There are aspects of gothic horror and some explicit violence and descriptions, so more sensitive readers should be aware. 

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

Curds of Prey - Cheese Shop Mystery #3

 

Curds of Prey is the third Cheese Shop cozy mystery by Korina Moss. Due out 28th March 2023 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is an enjoyable small town shopfront cozy with an appealing protagonist, lots and lots of cheese trivia, and a well constructed puzzle to solve alongside shop owner Willa. She's catering a bridal shower (with lots of delicious cheeses) when the groom is found dead after a contretemps with Willa's erstwhile boyfriend (who also had some history with the bride).

As with most cozies, the emphasis is on the characters and the puzzle. The crimes are described off-scene and without being gruesome. The language is very clean. The series continues to improve, from a strong start, and the ensemble cast of Willa and her employees, continue to mesh and become more three dimensional and believable (for a cozy). I'm looking forward to the next installment in the series.

Although it's the third book in the series, the plot arc and resolution are self-contained, and it works well enough as a standalone. With three books currently in the series, and a fourth announced for third quarter 2023, it would make a good choice for a cozy series binge or buddy read.

Four stars. Definitely one for shopfront cozy fans. It's full of esoteric cheese minutiae and I found a number of specialty cheeses I'm looking forward to trying. The author has also included intriguing cheese themed recipes for a goat cheese quesadilla and dutch oven pancake (Dutch baby)

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

Babel: An Arcane History

Babel: An Arcane History is a dark bookish fantasy history by R.F. Kuang. Released 23rd Aug 2022 by HarperCollins on their Voyager imprint, it's 560 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This was *the* speculative fiction buzz book for 2022 and with good reason. It's brilliantly imagined, distinctive, and incredibly well written.  Thematically, there's a heaping helping of anti-colonization rhetoric, so folks who hum Rule Britannia whenever they think about the sun never setting on the British Empire are in for an eyeful. There's also a strong undercurrent of dangerous racism, and some passages were painful to read, although realistically depicted.

The author is clearly more than passingly familiar with Oxford as well as with the time period (Regency England, 1828). I was enchanted with the writing and equally impressed with the verisimilitude of the settings and characterizations. Spelling and vernacular are period British English, but won't pose any problems for readers in context.

Five stars. Beautifully written and superlative world building and magic systems. Absolutely one for language nerds. 

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

On Spine of Death - By the Book Mysteries #2

 

On Spine of Death is the second By the Book cozy mystery by Tamara Berry. Released 29th Nov 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 408 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 is an appealing small town cozy with a full complement of eccentric characters, usually including the requisite handsome local officer of the law, and featuring an intelligent female amateur sleuth. The genre is wildly popular and due to the abundance, more than a few are, frankly, formulaic and predictable. In this case the writing is well above average, engaging, well done and entertaining. There's more than a little humor, and the dialogue is never overwrought or clunky.

For readers who love small-town mysteries, especially bookish mysteries, this one combines both. It's potentially a little too gritty to be called a proper cozy mystery, but it's not very graphic and readers will likely have 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.

 

Mr Campion's Mosaic -

 

Mr Campion's Mosaic is the newest book in an homage series to Margery Allingham's Albert Campion. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Severn House, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats. Paperback format due out late second quarter 2023 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.

Author Mike Ripley has written several books featuring Campion (this is the 10th) as well as other fiction and nonfiction. He's an experienced and capable author and this series has been an absolute joy to read. I've been a fan of golden age mystery (especially British) as long as I've been reading, more or less, and I'm always on the lookout for more golden age fiction since the original authors are sadly long gone. 

This installment sees Campion (the elder), reformed burglar & gent's gent Lugg, and an ensemble cast of characters trying to recreate a departed mystery writer's mystery in film whilst Campion gets to the bottom of attempted and actual murder (and tries to avoid falling prey himself). Lugg is, as always, superlatively entertaining, and Campion is self-deprecatingly and devastatingly brilliant. He appears hapless but his bumbling manner and innocent humor disguise a mind like a steel trap. He's clever and appealing, and the author does a smashing job rendering him faithfully from Allingham's original canon.

The book honestly surprised some laughs out of me. The clues are fair-play, and the climax and denouement are wonderfully twisty and satisfying. I really love this series. For readers who are not already fans of Mr. Ripley's Campion, but who are fans of Ms. Allingham will find much to love here. Ripley treats the canon with the respect (and humour) it deserves. Although it's the 10th book in this series (may there be many more), it works well enough as a standalone.

With so many books in the series, it would make a great choice for a binge/buddy read. They're all high quality, entertaining, fair play mysteries.

Four and a half stars.

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

A Murder at Balmoral

A Murder at Balmoral is a quirky locked room mystery with an alternate history timeline plot element by Chris McGeorge. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Putnam imprint, it's 384 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

The blurb describes this as Clue meets The Crown, and that is not an inappropriate description. There's a fair bit of fast-and-loose with actual history (in this timeline, Edward VIII didn't abdicate to marry Wallis Simpson), and all that has followed that wrinkle has led to a locked room setting for Christmas murder at Balmoral.

The dramatis personae are muzzily defined, although the author has provided a list of the principal players. The setting itself is wonderful and the author has a readable and engaging writing style. The mystery is a trifle contrived (but par for the course of the genre), and the ending was odd, but overall, it's a worthwhile and interesting read. Probably mostly of interest to readers who are especially fascinated by the British royals; it will be lost on most who aren't already familiar with some of the Windsor back-history. 

Three stars. 

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

A Dreadful Splendor

 A Dreadful Splendor is a wonderfully evocative gothic mystery romance by B. R. Myers. Released 23rd Aug 2022 by HarperCollins on their William Morrow imprint, it's 416 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. 

This is a very well written and deliciously creepy fable featuring a young orphaned heroine making her way in the world as best she can. Much of her existence revolves around spiritualism, being a fake medium, and conducting seances for rich patrons. Her plans go awry and when she's caught and jailed, her prospects seem quite hopeless. In a plot twist worthy of a Brontë, she's sprung from jail to perform a (fake) seance to comfort a nobleman; but she finds him much different than expected, and he's quite sure his deceased wife was murdered and wishes her to help him prove it. 

The mystery itself is fairly well wrought, but it was the atmospheric writing that took the starring role. The author manages to conjure the period without being clunky or difficult to read and the scene setting and dialogue are precise and immersively written. The whole has a very YA feel, and there are parts of the plot arc which are moderately trope-y, but as previously stated, the writing is superlative. 

Four stars. Worth a read, especially for fans of YA(ish) gothic mysteries. 

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

Death at the Manor - Lily Adler Mystery #3

 

Death at the Manor is the third Lily Adler historical cozy mystery by Katharine Schellman. Released 9th Aug 2022 by Crooked Lane, it's 336 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in third quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a nice historical mystery set in the Regency era and featuring a well rounded cast of characters, including young widow Lily Adler, recently arrived in London from Hertfordshire and still in semi-mourning for her late husband. The mystery is written around a framework of real history which gives it some verisimilitude. The background research was inserted seamlessly and the whole is quite polished and engaging.

The writing is articulate, the narrative arc and tension are well engineered, and with a satisfying denouement. The dialogue isn't ever clunky or cringe-worthy (and for modern Regency fiction, that's saying something). There are some minor developments between the main characters which will be spoiled by having been read out of order, but nothing major. The mystery is adeptly crafted and the motives for the crimes are believable (for fiction).

Four stars. Highly recommended, especially to fans of the genre.

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

Dying To Tell - Aoife Walsh #5

 

Dying To Tell is the 5th Aoife Walsh thriller/procedural by Val Collins. Released 28th Feb 2023, it's 286 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, the first three books in the series are currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a very fast paced, action driven thriller featuring a reporter protagonist, her detective fiance, and a heap of unreliable witnesses. Despite being the fifth book in the series, it well enough as a standalone, and readers coming into the series with this book won't have any troubles keeping up with the plot or characters. I liked that Aoife is tenacious and intelligent, and her interplay with the other characters is well written and nuanced. There is a fair bit of back story from the previous books which will give minor spoilers for the main characters and their history together if read out of order.

Four stars. The ending is definitely a page-turner, and I found the climax, denouement, and resolution satisfying and well done. This is one for fans of procedural/investigative thrillers. The author is superlatively talented and the writing, as always, is top notch.

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