A Midsummer Night's Scheme - Bookbinding Mystery #2

A Midsummer Night's Scheme is the second Bookbinding cozy by Harper Kincaid. Released 21st March 2023 by Crooked Lane, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a fun, very light, bookish shopfront cozy full of pets, over the top (borderline silly) plot developments, and lots of puns. The violence happens off-scene and the language is very clean, not even PG level (one "damned" and a clean humorous punnish pin one of the characters wears). The book is a standalone, but there are definitely some overarching plot details which are carried over into the next book(s). 

Readers will need to bring a stout suspension of disbelief to the read since many of the situations and motives are fairly contrived. The author has included a number of intriguing southern recipes at the back of the book as a bonus (including fried pickles and liver & onions). 

Three and a half stars. Well worth a look for fans of light bookish cozies such as Sue Minix, Ellery Adams, and Ellie Alexander. 

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

Six Sweets Under - True Confections Mystery #1

Six Sweets Under is the first book in a new shopfront cozy by Sarah Fox. Released 7th Feb 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley 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 and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an engaging and fun series starter with former-actress-returned-to-her-smalltown-roots Becca Ransom, who is helping her grandparents as a chocolatier in their shop, True Confections. When a local curmudgeon is found dead after a very public disagreement with Becca's grandfather, she is drawn into getting to the bottom of the scandal to clear her family name. 

The book is full of the light puns and humorous dialogue readers expect from small town cozies. It's populated by eccentric characters alongside more realistic and relatable secondary characters. The author does a superlative job with the setting, which plays an integral part in the mystery. 

The mystery is self contained in this volume and it works well as an introduction and standalone. There are some unexplained foreshadowed developments in the very last pages which strongly hint at the next volume, but they don't detract from the denouement and resolution of this story. 

Four stars. Definitely one for fans of small-town shopfront light cozies. 

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

Amigurumi for Beginners

 

Amigurumi for Beginners is a tutorial instruction guide with patterns for 20 amigurumi animals written by Julia Simpson. Released 1st Nov. 2022 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 210 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 book is logically laid out and accessible. The graphics are appealing and clear. The book is lavishly illustrated and I really appreciate the closeness and detail of the photography. The book has a short introduction including the history of amigurumi along with a short pep talk about why the author started crocheting soft toys.

There are two main parts. The first section includes a fairly thorough intro to crochet and tools and supplies. The chapter is well illustrated with clear photos of different brands of crochet hooks, what they look like, and the structural differences. There's also a handy chart with metric/US size and gauge measurements. The author presupposes no previous knowledge of crochet and the instruction is upbeat and positive (and reassuring). There's enough info here to start crocheting for both visual and hands-on learners. She also covers other supplies, like yarn and stuffing, safety eyes, embroidery thread, needle choices, etc. There are handy US vs. UK terms and explanations, which will be useful to a broad range of readers from most of the English speaking world.

The intro is followed by the 20 tutorials. Each tutorial contains multiple photos (mostly finished project photos), tools and supplies, and well written (not charted) instructions. There are no construction instructions or photos, although those -are- covered in the intro / general tutorial on how-to crochet. 

The author has included links to her online presence in the credits at the end of the book for readers who wish to follow or interact with the online community as well as links for readers who wish to source tools and supplies online.

Well done and a nice selection of patterns which are fundamentally different from one another, giving the reader a broad platform for creating alternative amigurumi and for customization.

Four and a half stars. Well worth a read for crochet interested readers. The dolls are cute, and most are quite small and quick to finish.

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

Nine Lives - Cat Caliban #9

 

Nine Lives is the ninth Cat Caliban cozy mystery by D. B. Borton. Released 15th Oct 2022 by Boomerang Books, it's 274 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written, genuinely funny murder cozy set in Cincinnati with a feisty protagonist who's survived raising a family, the breakup of her marriage, a move, and a new late-midlife career change, and isn't inclined to put up with anyone's crap. She's salty, down-to-earth, and kind and loyal to her friends. The mystery itself, the plotting, and the pacing are very well done. The author definitely has a solid handle on her writing style. I found myself engaged in the story and never felt it dragged or raced. The dialogue is superlative. It flows naturally and believably. It has a delightful retro vibe being set in the 1980s and the author's references to cultural icons of the time will make those of us who remember the 1980s smile, or maybe wince. Writing humor is challenging. This one actually surprised a bark of laughter out of me a couple times. That happens very very rarely. There are also positive (admittedly stereotypical) depictions of people who are LGBTQIA+ in the book, as well as a warm fuzzy theme of "found family". Slight warning for rough language (sort of Bea Arthur Golden Girls level snark here). Her protege/sidekick Leon has a terrible stutter which is rendered organically in the text which I found distracting, but it's written respectfully and with verisimilitude (he uses AAVE in his speech patterns which also distracted a bit, but on the other hand, he's an 80s black kid from urban Cincinatti....).I'm not at all sure how well the stutter will translate to audiobook narration, so proceed forewarned. 

With 9 books in the series, it would be a great candidate for a long binge/buddy/readathon read.

Four and a half stars. Tone perfect, very entertaining. Fans of Janet Evanovich and Sue Grafton will almost certainly enjoy this series.

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

A Wealth of Deception - Scandal Mountain Antiques #2

 

A Wealth of Deception is the second Scandal Mountain Antiques shopfront cozy mystery by Trish Esden. Released 18th April 2023 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written and engaging small-town shopfront cozy mystery featuring an amateur sleuth who is an arts and antiques seller and historian, her uncle, and friends/family. She has an interesting back-story since her mother is currently in prison on art fraud/forgery and she's come back to her family antiques store to help try to keep it afloat after her mother's trial and incarceration. 

It's populated by the usual cast of oddball and eccentric characters, some vaguely threatening competitors in the antiques milieu, and an interesting and well researched plot revolving around visual arts, authentication and provenance, and whitewashing and fraud (and murder) in the rarefied high end arts world. 

Although it's the second book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone. There are currently two books in the series, with an open ended implication of further adventures for Edie & co. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours 22 minutes and is narrated by Emily Ellet. She has an oddly husky/gravelly voice with an appealing musicality/cadence. Her accent in this read is unobtrusive midwestern American, and it soon fades into the background (in a good way). The sound and production quality are high throughout the recording. 

Four stars. The violence occurs off-scene and the language is clean. There is frank discussion in the text about standards of ethics in mental health and residential care facilities and providers, along with psychological trauma and patient abuse. 

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

Badge of Edisto

Badge of Edisto is a crossover novel featuring characters from C. Hope Clark's Edisto Island and Carolina Slade series. Released 28th Oct 2022 by Belle Bridge Books, it's 358 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written but slow moving character driven procedural mystery set in a rural coastal/island area in South Carolina. The murder of a local healer/wise woman draws retired former Police Chief Callie back into service due to the incompetence of her replacement in the force. She's joined in crossover support roles by her friends Carolina Slade (and fiance), and a cameo from Quinn Sterling from another crossover series by the author. 

The cast of characters is quite large and the author hits the ground at a good clip. It does not work as a standalone in any way whatsoever. For current fans of the author's oeuvre who are up to speed, this is a very well written and plotted book. The characters are deeply developed and feel realistic. With so many related books and characters who feature in crossovers, this would make a great candidate for a long binge/buddy/readathon read. 

Four stars. Well written but dark in places. Content includes descriptions of active substance abuse and mental health issues. 

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

The Socialite's Guide to Murder - Pinnacle Hotel Mystery #1

The Socialite's Guide to Murder is the first Pinnacle Hotel murder mystery by S.K. Golden. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 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.

This is a refined and engaging cozy mystery with a young wealthy girl/woman who lives her life within the confines of her father's very posh hotel due to her agoraphobia. It's all lace curtains and silk stockings, social calendars and art exhibition openings, until circumstances thrust her into the middle of an investigation. 

The writing style is simple and direct. The characters are well rendered, albeit often fairly superficial. Main character Evelyn is a spoiled little rich girl, but nevertheless stands by her friend when he's accused of theft. She does develop over the course of the book, and the second volume in the series is due out in 4th quarter 2023. 

This will likely appeal to fans of Ashley  Weaver and Anna Lee Huber, although this series is set in America in the late 1950s and not Victorian England. 

Three and a half stars. Escapist comfort reading.

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

The Biscuit Barrel Murder

The Biscuit Barrel Murder is a jolly cosy mystery and ripping amateur sleuth adventure set in the early interwar golden age by debut author Geoffrey Start. Released 24th Jan 2023 by The Book Guild, it's 293 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. 

Although a modern production, there's an impressive verisimilitude and it truly reads as though it could've been written in 1920. The main protagonist is a minor noble, one Sir William "Wispy" Fescue who, along with his lady wife and a pair of friends manage to track down stolen prize cattle, works of art, and in the latest adventure, hopefully save a local well heeled young woman from the hangman's noose who's been convicted of murdering her fiancé, Viscount Thurmaston.

The whole is delightfully well written and all the moving parts function precisely as intended. Although it's not derivative, it *is* very much an homage to the beloved departed classicists of the Golden Age, specifically Marsh and Allingham. It even happens that head sleuth Wispy's wife is a recognised artist who has already been accepted at the Royal Academy exhibition and is in line for a potential second honour. 

There's a great deal of humour throughout, and much lighthearted banter. It's strongly foreshadowed that there's a potential series in the offing, and that's a wonderful prospect. 

Four and a half stars. Delightful fun.

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

The Curious Life of Ada Baker

The Curious Life of Ada Baker is a paranormal cozy mystery by Karen Hamilton-Viall. Released 27th Sept 2022 by Cranthorpe Millner, it's 324 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. 

Definitely one for modern paranormal mystery fans. It's thankfully not very scary at all and there's a definite cooperative/Scooby-Do gang type vibe. Ada and her (ghost) friends decide to investigate a local murder with the expected complications and dangers inherent in the task. I liked the author's world building and the subtleties of Ada's psychic abilities; she gets a boost to certain aspects of her abilities by allowing her ghostly flatmates to inhabit her body partially. 

There's quite a lot of "telling" instead of "showing", but the very direct style of writing is less obtrusive as the story develops into a satisfying resolution. A series in the offing? The potential for future adventures is foreshadowed. 

Three and a half stars. Definite potential. 

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

The Scarlet Circus

The Scarlet Circus is a beautifully curated thematic collection of short fiction, poetry, and ruminations on love in all its iterations by Jane Yolen. Released 14th Feb (of course) 2023 by Tachyon, it's 256 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately

This is a nicely varied and wide ranging collection.  Most of the material here is previously published, but there are several in each category which are original to this collection. Many of the stories are quite difficult to find and many were new to me in any form. One reason I prefer collections and anthologies is that short fiction is really challenging.  It's spare and the author doesn't have a wealth of wordage to develop characters or the plotting.  Well written short fiction is a delight. I also love collections because if one story doesn't really grab me, there's another story just a few pages away.  I can only recall a few times where I've read a collection (or anthology) straight through from cover to cover.  This one I did. I even re-read the stories which I had read before.

I'm not normally a huge reader of poetry but the included poems (they're interspersed with the story notes) were lyrical and beautifully written and engaging and so precisely put together that it was a pleasure. 

The collection also includes an erudite and interesting introduction by Brandon Sanderson, which is worth a look.

A worthwhile collection for Yolen fans, readers of fantasy and speculative fiction, and folks who just appreciate well written prose. She's a master writer with a prodigious oeuvre and these are some of her best. 

Five stars. Just gorgeous.

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

A Courage Undimmed - Olive Bright Mystery #3

A Courage Undimmed is the third Olive Bright historical WW2 spy mystery by Stephanie Graves. Released 24th Jan 2023 by Kensington Books, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 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 throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.

This is a very well wrought and realistically rendered WW2 novel set on the home front in late 1941. Series protagonist, intelligent and capable Olive Bright is less than pleased by the higher ups' disdain for her covert program raising racing/carrier pigeons for the war effort. She receives an assignment to escort a visiting officer from Royal Naval Intelligence, Ian Fleming (yes, that one) who turns out to be a disapproving and arrogant, but undeniably clever, pain in the nether regions. She's soon drawn into murder, espionage, and intrigue alongside Fleming. 

I enjoyed the skillfulness with which the author wraps the fictional narrative around a framework of actual historical people and events. It's done so skillfully that it's not always apparent where fact shades into fiction. 

Four stars. With three books extant in the series, it would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read or even a book club reading project. The author has included good background historical notes at the back of the book (spoilers involved, don't read before finishing reading). Fans of Anna Lee Huber and Rhys Bowen will likely enjoy this series. 

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

Flight Risk - The Booking Agents #2

Flight Risk is the second Booking Agent paranormal cozy by Cherie Priest. Released 15th Nov 2022 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 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 throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.

This is such a well written, quirky, and genuinely funny series. The main protagonist is a travel agent working in her own agency alongside her undependable unasked for sixth-sense clairvoyant talent. She's approached by a man looking for his sister who disappeared under a cloud of embezzlement and with a giant grudge against her cheating husband who didn't even report her missing. Her case soon ties up with a case from homicide Detective Grady, whose golden retriever has brought him a new homicide case in the form of a disembodied leg, wearing a shoe.

I liked that she has a great relationship with her best friend Niki who also helps her uncover clues and isn't afraid to drag her off for a drink or three if she's getting too wrapped up in her own head (she has some unresolved trauma from the loss of a partner some years earlier). The disparate threads entwine more closely throughout the book into a clever and satisfying denouement and resolution. Her cooperative work with police detective Grady is very well written and it's a lot of fun to read their interactions. It's so nice that there wasn't any insta-romance or foreshadowed attraction between Grady & Leda - they're colleagues (at least for the present).

Four stars. The author is adept, the mystery is very well constructed, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes next for Leda, Niki, & Grady. The language is PG rated and there's no explicit content. Fans of  Darynda Jones' Sunny Vicram and Cosimano's Finlay Donovan books are in for a treat.

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

The Poison Machine - Hunt & Hooke #2

 

 

The Poison Machine is the second Hunt & Hooke historical mystery by Robert J. Lloyd. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Melville House, it's 464 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 3rd 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 an exceptionally well written and researched thriller/mystery set in the latter part of the 17th century in and around London. The descriptions and dialogue are precisely rendered and believable. The story follows primarily Harry Hunt, renowned scientist Robert Hooke's assistant, sent to investigate a body found in Norfolk. 

The author does a wonderful job bringing the simmering religious persecution of the era to life. The fictional narrative is skillfully woven around a framework of actual historical people and incidents and it's done so seamlessly that it's not always apparent where history shades into fiction. He does a great job with the characters and even the secondary characters are three dimensional and believable. I loved the respect and finesse with which he handles the historical (and fictional) characters.

Very well written and crafted. The pacing is not slow, but it's steady and worth the build-up. The denouement and resolution were satisfying. I am looking forward to the next books in the series. The author doesn't seem to produce books at a breakneck pace, but thus far, they've absolutely been worth the wait. Quality, exemplary, believable historical fiction.

Four and a half stars. Highly recommended for fans of cerebral mysteries in the style of The Name of the Rose and Father Cadfael. It's not derivative, but there's something about the descriptive prose and very clever construction which reminds me of both of them.

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

 

A Trip with Trouble - Mountain Lodge Mystery #2

A Trip with Trouble is the second Mountain Lodge hotel cozy mystery by Diane Kelly. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a fun and easy to read light cozy from an experienced and prolific author. All the working parts fit together well into a seamless, escapist read. Mainly told from the third person PoV of the protagonist, Misty, a 50something recently divorced destination lodge owner, there are short interludes featuring her cat as the central dramatis persona. The chapters have an identifying heading for which character is in focus for added clarity.

It's lightly humorous and easy to read. Although it's the second book in the series, the mystery is self contained in this volume and it works well as a standalone. The setting is beautifully rendered and evocative. With 2 books extant and a third due out 4th quarter 2023, it would make a good choice for a short binge or buddy read. 

Four stars. Fans of Cleo Coyle, Lynn Cahoon, and Amanda Flower will find a lot to like here. 

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

Chaos at Carnegie Hall - A Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane Mystery #1

Chaos at Carnegie Hall is a fun and engaging historical cozy and the first Fiona Figg & Kitty Lane mystery by Kelly Oliver. Released 15th Nov. 2022 by Boldwood Books, it's 288 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series, due out 25th April 2023 will also be  available on KU. 

This is a lightly humorous historical spy cozy set in WW1 and featuring returning spy (from another series by the same author), Fiona Figg as well as introducing a new adversary-to-sidekick character,  young Kitty Lane. It's a fast and engaging read, quite humorous in places, and easy to follow. 

The language is clean and the plot is woven around actual historical events fairly skillfully. It's a cozy, and without graphic, on page violence. It's not at all derivative, but it will definitely appeal to fans of Andrea Hicks and Verity Bright. 

Four stars. Light entertainment. 

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

Perils of a Pregnant Sleuth

 

Perils of a Pregnant Sleuth is the second southern cozy(ish) mystery featuring biology-professor-on-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave Callahan Banks written by Dershie McDevitt. Released 22nd Sept 2022, it's 280 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 well written murder mystery series set in coastal North Carolina. The titular pregnant protagonist is on leave from a tenure-track position in the biology department at UNC, spending time where she grew up, having returned to Timicau Island to settle the estate of her late mother. The plot is mostly character driven and the author has a solid grasp of characterization and setting. Callahan does have a propensity for emotional indecision, but it rings true given the circumstances; being pressured to marry due to her pregnancy in the face of her natural tendency to independence and unwillingness to tie herself to the father of her baby just because she's pregnant. 

The book is populated by a collection of oddball eccentrics and delightfully peculiar small town characters, including a trio of precocious nine year old triplets who inadvertently wind up helping her solve several crimes in the course of the book. There's quite a lot of biology and conservation adjacent content in the book, and the author writes passionately and knowledgeably about local wildlife and the fragile ecosystem of the area. 

The main plot elements are developed to completion in this volume. Despite being the second book in the series, it works fine as a standalone. It's a satisfying cozy(ish) mystery with a closed circle of suspects and limited setting. Readers picking this one up first won't have any trouble following the story.

Four stars. Promising second volume to (hopefully) a continuing series.

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

Dressed to Drill - Fixer-Upper Mystery #10

Dressed to Drill is the 10th Fixer-Upper cozy mystery by Kate Carlisle. Due out 2nd May 2022 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 332 pages and is available in mass market paperback and ebook formats. Regular 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 fun and easy-to-read cozy with well established three dimensional characters and an ensemble cast. Despite being the 10th book in the series, it works fine as a standalone. Readers who read the books out of order won't be lost or confused though; the author manages to fill in the backstory and character developments without spoon-feeding or info dumping. She has a breezy and engaging style of writing and the action driven plot doesn't slow down much from start to finish.

For readers of romance who like some cozy mystery in their reads (or cozy readers who enjoy clean romance) this series will be a good fit. The plot is simple and mostly linear. The violence is mostly off scene and without gore. The language is PG and there is no racy content. The book is full of the sort of quirky eccentric characters cozy readers have come to expect.

With 10 books extant in the series currently, it would make a good choice for a binge or buddy reading project.

Four stars. Well written and engaging.

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

Dragonboy - Heroes of Havensong #1

Dragonboy is the first book in a new middle grade epic adventure fantasy series by Megan Reyes. Released 24th Jan 2023 by Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 3rd 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 beautifully written and engaging fantasy for middle grade readers (Lexile 690L). The young protagonists have to learn to work together to overcome prejudice and challenges to save their way of life and their world. The plot is quite complex for a middle grade book and the first third of the book, developing the world, magic, and characters, seemed to take a long time (for a kids' book). 

It's a charmingly written book and the author is quite adept at descriptive prose and plotting. 

Four stars. It would be a great choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or family reading.

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

Mrs Hudson and The Christmas Canary - Mrs. Hudson #6

 

Mrs Hudson and The Christmas Canary is the sixth book in the cozy English mystery series by Martin Davies. Released 10th Nov 2022 by Canelo, it's 310 pages and is available in ebook format. 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 on the surface a nice tie-in series starring the redoubtable Mrs. Hudson (of 221B Baker St. fame), and featuring lots of nice Holmes and Watson cameos. As always, this installment also features Mrs. Hudson's assistant Flotsam who has blossomed into a capable, honourable, intelligent, and fearless protagonist in her own right.

There are several disparate plot threads - a Russian violinist's disappearance, a very cold case robbery, strange deliveries of live birds to luminaries in and around London, and Holmes seems more fascinated with criminal damage to Christmas trees in Sussex - and they all twine ever more tightly together to reach a satisfying climax and denouement. The author weaves fictional characters and events so skillfully around real historical characters that it's not always easy to figure out where fact shades into fiction. 

Despite being the 6th book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone, and I had no trouble keeping up with the plot. 

Four stars. This would be a good choice for holiday reading for fans of very historical British cozies.  It would also make a good choice for bookclub discussion or a buddy-read for cozy enthusiasts. It's not canon, of course, but it slots neatly into the world better than most series featuring the Great Detective and his household.

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

A Doomful of Sugar - Maple Syrup Mysteries #1

A Doomful of Sugar is the first Maple Syrup cozy mystery by Catherine Bruns. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen Press imprint, 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 and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

It's nice to find a new series by a popular and prolific author. This is a fun small town farm cozy set in Vermont set in and around protagonist Leila's family's maple sugar farm. She returns to her hometown to try to help her family after her father's violent death. Things aren't on the level and when suspicion falls on her brother, she determines to get to the bottom of the mystery before anyone else gets killed.

This is a fun, very light, well written murder mystery with an intelligent young female protagonist. In small-town cozy style, the book is peopled by characters who are by turns nosy, exasperating, fun, or just odd. It's a nice distraction to figure out "whodunit", and the plot moves along at a good clip and doesn't drag or hiccup. The story is lighthearted and flows well. The language is clean and the violence occurs off-page. 

The author has also included some maple syrup themed recipes in the back of the book.

Four stars. Very fun. It would make a good selection for public library acquisition, home use, or possibly a buddy read.

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

The Spare Man

The Spare Man is an SF classic closed-circle setting mystery by Mary Robinette Kowal. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in all 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. 

Apart from the setting (future with interstellar space travel), this is a cozy mystery with a classic closed circle of suspects setup. There are some nods to the future/space/SF setting, but mostly it's very much secondary to requirements. Readers who love classic Hammett will find a lot to love here because it's a more intricate reworking of The Thin Man, including the dog (who in this instance is a service dog and not a wire fox terrier like Asta). 

Cocktails and banter in space.The fact that the main character is dealing with chronic health issues is nice, and the mystery is well constructed. The writing is above average (as expected for this author's oeuvre) and all the parts are in place. 

Four stars. High quality, entertaining, and breezy. 

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

The Fish

The Fish is a hubris soaked, sobering work of climate fiction by Joanne Stubbs. Released 6th Oct 2022 by Fairlight Books, it's 256 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 dialogue dense and erudite, if dark, book. It's not light, or very humorous and there's precious little uplifting or redemptive here. Humans are a plague on the planet and in this dark near-apocalyptic near-future, the natural world has gone past the point of no return. We've known for decades and seemingly been powerless to act comprehensively to make any meaningful difference in the catastrophic path we're all on. 

In the meantime, the appealing characters go about their daily lives, planting rice in a back garden paddy in Cornwall, adjusting to life in Kuala Lumpur which is rendered a coastal city by rising tides, and surviving brutal storms battering New Zealand. Parallel lives, all in the same (sinking) boat. 

Four stars. In the vein of Silent Spring, and On the Beach. It feels uncomfortably prescient.

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

Perils of a Pregnant Sleuth

 Perils of a Pregnant Sleuth is the second Callahan Banks mystery by Dershie McDevitt. Released 30th Sept. 2022, it's 280 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 light small town cozy romance/mystery featuring a biology professor with a complicated romance/relationship situation who is drawn into a murder mystery by happenstance and a trio of precocious 9 year old triplets. The setting is a rural island in coastal South Carolina. Taking a break from her teaching duties for an extended maternity leave after the loss of her mother, she's not interested in marriage (or is she?). 

For readers who do not want strong romance subplots in their mysteries, this might not be the best choice. Additionally, the third person present tense voice takes a bit of getting used to (but does soon fade into the background): "Callahan's so deep into her ruminations that it takes her a minute to hear someone coming up the steps to her deck. There's a thud and then another on that outside staircase, the only one in the house". The writing is direct and unvarnished and disarmingly simple.

The plot is well constructed. It's a small town cozy, so readers should bring a solid suspension of disbelief to the read. Overall, it's quite good and in some ways it reminds me of a southern US version of Elly Griffiths' excellent Ruth Galloway mysteries.

Four stars. Although it's the second book in the series, it works very well as a standalone. It would make a good mini-binge or buddy read.

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

Everything I Never Dreamed: My Life Surviving and Standing Up to Domestic Violence

Everything I Never Dreamed is an emotionally raw and vulnerable memoir written by Ruth M. Glenn. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a simply, honestly, and compassionately written memoir. It certainly is the story of one woman's childhood and experiences with domestic instability and generational poverty and violence, but it is also (and possibly more importantly), the story of societal and structural inequity and a wider tapestry of the millions of children and adults who are living with trauma and instability from domestic violence. 

She is an important voice for the voiceless and has used her intelligence and articulation to both illuminate and map out some potential solutions for the myriad complex problems which DV causes and perpetuates. 

It's *not* an easy read. It is unquestionably and important one. This would make a good selection for public or post-secondary library acquisition, personal reading, or more formal academic/classroom reading and discussion. It would also be a great choice for book club or buddy read.

Five stars.

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

Daggers at the Country Fair - The Martha Miller Mysteries #2

Daggers at the Country Fair is the second Martha Miller cozy by Catherine Coles. Released 26th Sept 2022 by Boldwood Books, it's 246 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. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The first book in the series is also currently available on KU, and a third book is due out in late fourth quarter 2023. 

This is a well written and whimsy filled historical cozy set just after WW2 in rural England.Village life seems to be settling down for "newcomer" Martha Miller, but she's as surprised as anyone when she's invited to open a village fair in a neighbouring village. When murder conspires to draw her and her charming "Watson", vicar Luke, the game is certainly afoot again. 

It's a fair play mystery, and readers will enjoy evaluating the clues as they come along. The author is adept at providing background story, so although it's the second book in the series, it works fine as a standalone read. 

Four stars, with two books extant and a third due out in late 2023, it would make a nice mini-binge or buddy read. 

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

Death Among the Diamonds - Cressida Fawcett #1

Death Among the Diamonds is the first Cressida Fawcett historical cozy by Fliss Chester. Released 21st Sept 2022, it's 300 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The second book in the series is also currently available on KU, and a third book is due out in late second quarter 2023. 

This is a beautifully rendered historical cozy featuring flapper Cressy Fawcett and her sidekick (a pug) named Ruby. It's set in interwar (1920's) England and protagonist Cressida is a lot more enamored of her independence and her motorcar than in finding a husband and settling down (egads!). She's drawn into mayhem and danger when she agrees to help her friend Dorothy investigate her mother's stolen diamonds. Country house murder, civilized repartee, missing diamonds, genteel cast of characters, secrets and skullduggery. 

It's sure to appeal to fans of the original Golden Age authors (Christie, Marsh, Sayers, Allingham, and the others sadly departed). It's not an absolute dead ringer for their work (how could it be?), but it's satisfying and diverting nevertheless. 

Four stars. The language is squeaky clean and the violence is off page. It's civilized and fun (and Ruby is the absolute bees' knees). 

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

Tread of Angels

Tread of Angels is a novella length fantasy/wild west/historical/whodunnit by powerhouse fantasist Rebecca Roanhorse. Released 15th Nov 2022 by Simon & Schuster on their Gallery/Saga Press imprint, it's 208 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out 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 and references throughout. 

The author is one of the most lauded and peer-respected living authors (in any genre) today. This is a well written shorter form in a different subgenre than her other work. The pacing is quite a departure (because of the shorter length?), but it's engaging and readable all the same. Classism in the old west is alive and well. The races in this novel are literally angels and demons, who can (and do) hybridize with humans. Two products of these unions, sisters, are in different situations because one sister can pass in the Elect society, whilst the other sister remains with their mother in the Fallen society. When Mariel is accused and arrested for murder, wellborn sister Celeste chooses to stand with her.

The setup, essentially a murder mystery in an alt-earth setting, is well constructed. There is a lot of pithy and all-too-relevant social commentary throughout. 

Four stars. Ms. Roanhorse is a talented and capable author. This wouldn't go amiss in a pleasure reading TBR list as well as a more formal analysis/literature classroom setting for secondary or post secondary instruction. 

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

A Future Murder - Zodiac Mystery #5

 

 A Future Murder is the 5th Zodiac Mystery by Linda Mather. Released 30th Aug 2022 by Joffe, it's 268 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 are also currently available on KU. 

This is a well written and engaging PI undercover mystery set in Gloucestershire and interestingly, the main protagonist is a former private investigator turned astrologer (?!). She's drawn into murder and industrial espionage when her former colleague asks her to go undercover to a business/networking conference. 

Readers should bring a hefty suspension of disbelief, because the first thing her colleague does after darkening her door is ask for an astrology reading of the putative subject of the "suspect", and he does so without the slightest embarrassment or hesitation. The book shapes up quite well (after that) and the characters and plot are well turned and three dimensional. 

Four stars. Twisty, fast paced, and satisfying. Although there are 5 books extant in the series currently, it works perfectly well as a standalone. It would also make a good choice for a series binge or buddy read. 

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

Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust - Deep Dish Mysteries #2

 

Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust is the second Deep Dish cozy mystery by Mindy Quigley. Due out 25th April 2023 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 320 pages and will be available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an engaging light shopfront cozy with an appealing female protagonist pizza-shop owner and her partner and best friend, a chubby tabby cat, and a prediliction for stumbling over mysteries. It's full of the sort of small town quirky eccentric characters which populate cozies to readers' delight. 

The plot arc is admittedly a tiny bit trope-y but quite entertaining and it's a fun read overall. The denouement and resolution are satisfyingly self-contained in this book, but there's a third book planned for release in late 4th quarter 2023. 

There are more than the usual number of pizza themed recipes included in the back of the book including some very fancy (and detailed) pizzas based on nduja (Calabrian spreadable sausage) and a Bulgarian specialty cheese.

Four stars. Highly recommended for fans of humorous light shopfront cozies like those from Ellie Alexander, Laurie Cass, and Peggy Ehrhart. 

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

Little Eve

Little Eve is a very well written and *extremely* creepy gothic horror fantasy by Catriona Ward. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their Tor Nightfire imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format available from the same publisher in 3rd quarter 2023. 

This is, at its heart, a cult novel set on a remote island in the first part of the 20th century in Scotland. There are rituals aplenty, body horror, creepy cult patriarch ("Uncle") who will give anyone with a beating heart the absolute cold creeps toot suite. The author is quite adept at the nuts-n-bolts of writing and the plotting and characterizations are much more than competent. The plotting is scattered and chaotic, a lot like horror films with a strobe effect where readers are continually disoriented and unsure (until the next huge jump-scare). 

Ms. Ward has an impressive grasp of many forms, but stretches her talents here. This is creepy gothic horror, atmospheric and disturbing. It was very twisty and dark, from start to finish. 

Three and a half stars. One for fans of horror. A potentially contentious choice for public library acquisition, it would make a good buddy read or book club selection.

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

The Enigma Affair

The Enigma Affair is a very well written spy thriller by Charlie Lovett. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Blackstone Publishing, it's 400 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out from the same publisher in 3rd quarter 2023. 

The author has a definite knack with characterization and setting. The opening scenes are a chaotic and very tense shootout with murder and multiple assassins and hit the reader like an unexpected drop into cold water. Main protagonist Patton is a badass librarian (my favorite combo!) and when a nasty assassin puts a bullet into her refrigerator one peaceful morning, her first thought whilst crab-walking to her floor safe for her gun and ammo is how annoyed she is that her chocolate ganache filled profiteroles are going to be ruined while she deals with the gunfight she's been thrust into. 

It's a fast paced dizzying sprint from rural North Carolina to England and Bletchley Park to try to unravel a deadly mystery from WW2 before the assassins beat her (or her unlikely ally, also a hit-man) to the goods, or permanently take them out of the action.

Four stars. Satisfying and exciting. It's engaging and fast paced with a satisfying denoument and resolution. 

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

The Gravedigger's Song - Tom Kilgannon #3

 

The Gravedigger's Song is the third crime thriller in the Tom Kilgannon series by Martyn Waites. Released 30 Aug 2022 by Blackstone Publishing, it's 350 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a very well written and honestly gripping crime novel. The intro scene is horrifyingly brutal and creepy and involves a home invasion, torture murder, sexual assault (including an adult and a minor), and explicit on page descriptions of the crimes. Coming off a long stint of village cozies, it was difficult to read. The book does get easier to stomach, but the first 20 pages are a series of gut punches, and readers should be forewarned. 

The plotting and action are very tautly controlled and well wrought. The author has a gift with description and the characterizations are believable. There is a thread throughout of the importance of found family which is uplifting and beautifully inclusive. 

The language is rough in places (R - rated), and the descriptions are bloodthirsty. The climax, denouement, and resolution are very well written and (mostly) satisfying. 

Four stars. 

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

A Hard Day for a Hangover - Sunshine Vicram #3

 

 

 

 

A Hard Day for a Hangover is the third book in the Sunshine Vicram procedural mystery series by Darynda Jones. Released 6th Dec 2022 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback due out in 4th 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 such a sarcastic book - honestly more of a slapstick romcom with murder mystery elements. The dialogue is rapid fire and extremely sarcastic throughout even when (in my opinion) it's unwarranted such as discussing murder, abduction, sexual assault, and stabbing. Protagonist Sun, the titular sheriff of her small mountain town,  has more inappropriate intrusive sexual thoughts about potential perpetrators and random passersby than would seem possible or entirely healthy. It's all crotches and abs. 

There's a persistent Sue Grafton vibe and although it's not derivative, it will definitely resonate with fans of Kinsey Millhone and other wisecracking tough gals.

All that aside, the drawbacks for me personally: the rapid fire funny dialogue, the relentless sexy talk, the bitingly sarcastic writing, and the tough-guy action will be pluses for readers who really enjoy romance mysteries with lots of action and fighting. The plotting is tight and the descriptive writing is competent and readable; the author does know her craft. There are several plot threads which entwine more closely throughout this book, culminating in a satisfying denouement and resolution. Most of the plotlines are resolved in this book so it works well as a standalone, but there's a central background theme which arcs throughout this book and the previous ones. That plot theme includes abduction and sexual assault in Sun's past, so readers should be aware of potential triggers. There is an abundance of sexual banter, alcohol, and strongly implied sexual content.

Four stars, likely higher for readers who enjoy humorous romance. 

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

Thunderstone: A true story of losing one home and discovering another

Thunderstone is a memoir adapted from a journal written by Nancy Campbell after a breakup and during the covid lockdown. Hardcover edition released in fourth quarter 2022 by Elliott & Thompson, upcoming reformat and release in paperback and ebook formats are due out in third and second quarter 2023 respectively. It's 224 pages (in hardcover).  

This is a short read, and it feels nearly transcribed directly from the dated journal entries. This gives the whole a very intimate and honest feel, sometimes quite jarringly so. The author describes the breakdown of her partnership and the health challenges her former partner faced from a stroke and recovery. In the end, Ms. Campbell moves into a stationary caravan/camper and spends a year writing, philosophizing, and trying to come to grips with the reality of the madness the world endured under covid. 

There's a lyrical quality to the whole and I was fascinated to find that daily entries were engaging even for less-than-electrifying occasions: fixing her water supply, stocking the larder, meeting her neighbors. It would have been a very different book from a less adept wordsmith. 

Four stars. This would be a good selection for public library acquisition, book club review, buddy read, or solo reading. 

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

How to Deal with Angry People: 10 Strategies for Facing Anger at Home, at Work and Online

How to Deal with Angry People is a tutorial and self-help guide for managing conflict by psychology professor Dr. Ryan Martin. Due out 9th May 2023 from Watkins Publishing, it's 224 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a very well written, logical, accessible, and most strikingly reasonable monograph on anger: what it is, why it happens, how to recognize it in ourselves and others, and what we can do about it. The author uses considerable effort to emphasize that dealing with angry people should -never- come at the cost of sacrificing personal safety. For people who are in unsafe situations because of the anger of the people around them, he provides some basic resources for finding help to come into a better/safer environment.

The second half of the book provides 10 strategies for different situations and how to use the information provided to communicate and ameliorate inevitable conflicts which arise. 

This is an information dense, useful book. There's very little "polyanna" unproductive relentless positivity and I was surprised how sensible and practical the recommendations are. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition or home use.

Four stars.

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

Strange Animals

Strange Animals is an all-ages nonfiction selection curated and written by Tom Jackson. Due out 4th July 2023 from Amber Books, it's 224 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

This is an absolutely gorgeous and colorful collection of 100 animal profiles with masses of salient (and accessible) info about each animal. The book is fully illustrated and there are lots and lots of crystal clear macro photographs scattered throughout.

Entries are arranged geographically by continent: Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, Central & South America, Europe, and the Oceans. Each entry has a very large detailed photo (sometimes several on one page) with clearly written captions. 

One disadvantage is that the animals are referred to throughout by common names, and not by current Linnaean/taxonomic classification. There is also no index listed in the ARC distributed for review. Full picture credits are included. 

Four and a half stars. This would be a superlative selection for public or school library acquisition, or home use. The size (9"x11") and glossy format would make it a nice coffee table display book as well.

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

The Weird Sisters: A Robin, a Ribbon, and a Lawn Mower

A Robin, a Ribbon, and a Lawn Mower is the second illustrated children's mystery by Mark David Smith. Due out 18th Apr 2023 from Owlkids, it's 96 pages and will be available in hardcover format. 

This is an engaging and whimsical mystery for the youngest readers (Lexile 580L). The main characters, a trio of Very Weird Sisters, Glubbifer Hildegurp and Yukmina, and their young friend Jennifer, are finding themselves at loose ends since the sisters are currently without a case to investigate and young Jennifer is on her summer school break. 

There's a fair bit of mild wordplay throughout, with one character misinterpreting something one of the other characters says and it being defined in the story. It's a painless and fun way to improve some vocabulary and stretch reading muscles. 

The book is illustrated throughout, and the pictures by Kari Rust are appealing and deceptively simple, with small details which invite readers to stop and take a closer look. There are genuinely funny pictures, such as the cat, Greymalkin, going for an emphatically unenthusiastic walk on harness, which will delight and surprise a chuckle. 

Four stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or reading circles. With the varied cast of characters, there are nearly limitless possibilities for funny voices when reading. 

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

Lament at Loon Landing

 

Lament at Loon Landing is the sixth book in the Secrets and Scrabble cozy mystery series by Josh Lanyon. Released 30th March 2023, it's 212 pages and available in ebook format. 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.

As a light and engaging series, this one is so appealing. Protagonist Ellery is drawn into poison pen letters and skullduggery as always (he's a very dangerous person to be around, statistically speaking). Boyfriend, and handsome officer of the law, Jack, tries to keep him safe and mostly intact. This outing, famous folk singer Lara Fairplay is in town to headline a local festival and keeps receiving threatening letters which Ellery is hired to investigate in a private capacity.

Despite being  the sixth book in the series it works fine as a standalone. The mystery is mostly self-contained in this volume, and although there are developing relationships and long term plot elements,  new readers coming to this volume won't have any trouble following the story. The author is technically adept and provides necessary backstory without info-dumping. The narrative is lighthearted, including an ensemble cast of oddball small-town characters. This is one series I recommend without reservation to my cozy/romance/mystery loving friends.

There are some fairly silly and over the top developments and plot twists, but it's a small village cozy, so it's really part of the whimsy. The "over the top" characters and dialogue were always on the right side of whimsical and charming and didn't shade over into annoying or yank me out of my suspension of disbelief, so it was a very fun read. The author/publisher has taken pains to make it clear that the romance is between two men, so I won't mention that, but there's absolutely no content which would scandalize anyone's maiden auntie. This is pure escapist comfort reading, simple and fun.

Four stars. Engaging and well written.

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