Death in Heels

Death in Heels is the first Dublin Drag mystery by Kitty Murphy. Released 1st Jan 2023 by Thomas & Mercer, 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 is due out in April 2023. 

This is such a well written and genuinely engaging mystery. The main protagonist, Fi McKinnery, is earnestly appealing, brave, loyal, and rendered believably. In fact, the author has a real gift with characterisation; even the minor secondary characters are handled well and skillfully. Given the premise (death in and around a Dublin drag club), the pitfalls could have been legion. I admit to some trepidation going into the read and feared it would be full of caricatures, appropriations, and cheap shots. It's none of those thing.

The mystery is well plotted and paced, and I never found my interest wandering at all. The climax, denouement, and resolution were satisfying (if not shocking or unexpected). It's rather sad that it needs to be said in today's world, but a high point for me was that there was no cruelty or ridicule aimed at the characters on the author's part. It would've been easy (maybe expected!) to lampoon drag and LGBTQIA+ culture for cheap laughs and the author has refrained, for which I applaud. There is *camp* aplenty; bad puns, and occasionally catty dialogue (it's a murder mystery in a drag club), but it's not *mean* and I'm glad. 

Quite looking forward to the next book in April. 

Four stars, a strong series starter.

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

 

The American Stamp: Postal Iconography, Democratic Citizenship, and Consumerism in the United States

The American Stamp is a well written, mostly layman accessible monograph on the history and context of stamps/postage in American culture. Released 3rd Jan 2023 by the Columbia University Press, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

Dr. Laura Goldblatt  has taken what could've been the tweediest, driest, most academic treatise and made it both accessible and interesting. The subject matter is admittedly academic, there's enough annotation and chapter notation and bibliography to satisfy the staunchest pedant but at the same time, there's a clear and compelling historical and sociological narrative. The book's not lavishly illustrated, the included photos and facsimiles are in black and white, but nevertheless, there's a distinct and followable thread throughout showing correlations between the rise of the mail service and postage stamps to the growth and shaping of the United States.

There were quite a lot of surprising revelations for me in this book about stamps, the actual logistics of mail delivery, infrastructure and how it relates to democracy, lifestyle, philately, and more. Throughout the book, the author & contributor have included numerous photographs and illustrations (in black & white/grayscale) which I enjoyed very much.

Well written, meticulously annotated and researched, with a clear and engaging narrative. Four and a half stars. Definitely a niche selection, but the best and most comprehensive example of parallel comparative study of social change as reflected in stamp subjects and imagery that I've seen (it's not a huge field, I think).

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

Murder, She Wrote: Death on the Emerald Isle - Murder, She Wrote #56

Death on the Emerald Isle is the 56th (!!!) Murder, She Wrote mystery. Due out 3rd Jan 2023 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is an eminently readable and enjoyable mystery "co-written" by Terrie Farley Moran.  This outing sees Jessica flying to Belfast as a guest speaker for a local book festival. The festival actually wraps up without any issues, and it's only when she agrees to deliver some paintings for a neighbor back in the Cabot Cove that dead bodies start popping up. 

These books are such comfort reading. There's something very relaxing about starting a read which is already a known quantity before opening the covers or reading a single sentence. They're consistently well written, cleverly constructed, fast paced, clean, and without graphic violence or language.

 I enjoyed the book, but I daresay I'd avoid any college reunion, wedding, vacation, cruise, or christening to which "Aunt Jess" is invited for fear of tripping over a recently murdered friend or acquaintance. "We know you're busy, just send a card, thanks!". I'm sure there are actuarial tables and insurance agents who have lectures and workshops on the statistical improbability of violent crime in her immediate vicinity, no matter *where* she finds herself. 

The mysteries are self-contained and can be read in any order. This is a perennial favorite for binge reading and highly recommended.

Four stars. 

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

Camp Creepy - Sinister Summer Series

Camp Creepy is the third book in a new middle grade series by Kiersten White. Due out 3rd Jan 2023 from Penguin Random House on their Delacorte Press imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (with paperback due out in May 2023). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The second book in the series is due out in Sept 2022. 

It's not derivative; the author is capable and talented, but to describe the series as Scooby Doo written by Lemony Snicket feels appropriate and accurate. The three Sinister-Winterbottom siblings, the eldest is 16 and permanently looking at her smartphone, and fraternal brother and sister twins aged 12 are sent to spend the summer with their Aunt Saffronia and it soon becomes crystal clear that weeks of boredom isn't the worst that could happen. They're still hot on the trail of evil archnemesis Edgaren't, and trying to figure out the rules of their new reality, where people (including their parents) are actually disappearing, and it's left to the siblings to get to the bottom of the weirdness. 

This is a fun summertime mystery for middle grade readers (Lexile measure is 740L). It's well written and edgy, but not inappropriate. The plotting struck me as a trifle meandering and the pacing was odd (clearly intentional on the author's part), but it's a fun and fast paced ride.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gifting to a young mystery fan. 

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

Bumpfizzle the Best on Planet Earth

Bumpfizzle the Best on Planet Earth is a odd and quirky lightly illustrated novel for young readers (ages ca. 7-10 years) by Patricia Forde. Originally published in 2018, this reformat and re-release was out 31st May 2022 by Little Island Books. It's 128 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook format. 

There are a lot of giggle/groan out loud moments in this strange little book. Bumpfizzle is an alien warrior sent to Earth to gather intelligence on the local lifeforms. Or, it's just remotely possible that he's actually a 10 year old human boy named Daniel who's less than thrilled with the attention claimed by "The Baby" and the resultant change in the family dynamic.  It's set up as a diary, where Bumpfizzle sends his reports back to his bosses on planet Plonk with his observations about Earth and the lifeforms which call it home. 

There are genuinely funny moments which honestly surprised an audible chuckle. There are also some alarming moments which were questionable in the extreme. No spoilers, but I don't think animal mistreatment is ever funny under any circumstances. Ever. That being said, despite the odd ending, it's an engaging and fun read.

The spelling and vernacular are UK/RoI English, so North Americans will notice some differences such as "hoover" instead of "vacuum" and "washing" instead of  "laundry". None should pose any difficulties in context however. The language is full of whimsy and wordplay and is a lot of fun to read.

Three and a half stars. Odd, but will likely appeal to kids in the same way that Lemony Snicket and Holly Grant's League of Beastly Dreadfuls books do, with a small dash of Captain Underpants. for good measure.

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

Baker and Taylor: and the Mystery of the Library Cats

Baker and Taylor and the Mystery of the Library Cats is a fun illustrated adventure for the youngest readers by Candy Rodo. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Paw Prints, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. The publisher's info gives the Lexile map rating as 4106L, which isn't directly listed on the map, but should be around grade 1-2.

This is an engaging and fun adventure story featuring Baker & Taylor, the Library Cats. They decide to leave their job in a small library helping patrons (and reading their favorite books) and take a cross-town adventure to New York City's public library to visit two other famous library cats, Patience and Virtue. Always ready for adventure, they've packed their backpacks with a guidebook and lunch, so they don't get hungry on the way. 

The pictures are engaging and fun and are filled with small details which invite a closer look. The sites they visit along the course of their trip are explained in simple highlighted text boxes throughout the book. 

Four and a half stars. This would be an excellent choice for public or school library, group read, or home library use. 

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

Simply Korean: Easy Recipes for Kimchi, Noodles, Soups, and More

Simply Korean is a comprehensive collection of Korean food with recipes developed and curated by Aaron Huh. Released 20th Dec 2022 by Penguin Random House on their DK Alpha imprint, it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

I love Korean food but always felt somewhat intimidated and full of excuses: "It's too complicated", "the ingredients are hard to source", "it requires too much special equipment", and "is it culturally insensitive for a lily white Irish girl to even make Korean food?". This is an everyday cookbook for non-professional cooks who love delicious Korean food, simple as that. The author's accessible and friendly writing style inspires confidence and there's a definite "you can do it" vibe about the whole book. 

It starts with a short author bio and pictorial introduction to Korean seasonings and ingredients. Some of these can be readily sourced at any well stocked international/Asian grocery store. Some of them will probably need to be ordered online.

The book continues in a logical fashion from foundational sauces, banchan (side dishes) to chicken, beef, pork, tofu, seafood, rice, noodles, soups & stews, kimchi (yay!), pancakes, and street food recipes. The chapters are packed with recipes (most with photographs) which are clear and easy to follow. Each of the recipes include sidebar with ingredients listed bullet point fashion (given in imperial/US standard measurements and some few metric equivalents), yields, and step-by-step instructions. Nutritional info is not included.

All of the recipes and assorted other information is provided in both English (transliterated), and Hangul (Korean characters). The book isn't bilingual, but it is well grounded in the traditional Korean names for dishes and ingredients. The author's wife & partner, Claire, provides interesting commentary and tips in text sidebars throughout, which added a lot to the read.

All in all, this is a beautifully written and presented Korean cookbook full of delicious food. The photography is top notch, the dishes are appealing and the recipes reflect a love and respect for culture and good food.

Five stars. Loved this one. A good choice for public library acquisition, home use and gift giving.

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

Dead Lucky

Dead Lucky is the 5th Harry Radcliffe mystery by Glenis Wilson. Released 3rd May 2022 by Severn House, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written and engaging mystery set in and around the horse jump-racing milieu. Despite being set in the modern day, there's a pleasantly retro feel to the whole and although it's *not* derivative, it took me to the same place as some of the old Dick Francis novels. The author has clearly done a lot of background research and it's full of fascinating background tidbits. 

Spelling and vernacular are British English but will pose no problems in context for readers from other areas. The author does a superb job of characterization and description and many of the scenes were quite cinematic; it was easy to "see" them whilst reading. The pacing is less even, with a bit of halting at several places. The mystery is self-contained in this volume, so readers who choose to jump in mid-series will likely not encounter major problems keeping track of things. There are, however, many references to things which have occurred in the earlier books, so folks reading them out of order should expect minor spoilers. 

Three and a half stars. Aside from the obvious appeal for fans of the Francis dynasty, this series will also likely be of interest to fans of Nevada Barr and Lyndon Stacey (although the former is American). 

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

Sink or Float: A Sesame Street Science Book

Sink or Float is a wonderful STE(A)M book for young kids and part of the Sesame St. Science series. Released 1st Jan 2023 by Lerner Books, it's 32 pages and is available in library binding, paperback, and ebook formats. Lexile measure 470 and aimed mostly at children aged 4-8 (but appealing and full of interesting info for all ages). 

Each page shows a familiar Sesame St. character with interactive thought provoking questions for kids. Ernie talks about Rubber Duckie floating and asks readers what toys they have which also float. Cookie Monster discusses materials science (with cookies, of course). Bert shows off his basketball and invites readers to contemplate the relative density of everyday objects. The following pages follow the same format, but invite young readers to form their own opinions about sinking/floating before they turn the page to find out if their hypotheses were correct.

The book is full of colorful clear photographs of muppets and kids thinking and learning about science in a fun and engaging way. Kids are naturally curious and this book utilizes that natural curiosity to help them learn naturally. I liked that the kids pictured are from a range of ethnicities and are both boys and girls, learning and having fun with science.

This would be a superlative gift, excellent classroom or library group selection for activity groups, as well as a wonderful parent/caregiver activity.

Five stars. I loved this one. It's simple but so well done.   

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

Vinyl Resting Place - Record Shop Mystery #1

Vinyl Resting Place is the first book in a new shopfront cozy series by Olivia Blacke. Released 27th Dec 2022 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buried in a Good Book is the first By the Book cozy mystery by Tamara Berry. Released 24th May 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 336 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Life and Times of Sherlock Holmes

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

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

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

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

Four and a half stars. 

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

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

A Good Dog's Guide to Murder is the 8th Paws & Claws cozy mystery by Krista Davis. Released 6th Sept 2022 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in mass market paperback, library binding, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

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

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

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

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

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

Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking is the second Caribbean Kitchen cozy mystery by Raquel V. Reyes. Released 8th Nov 2022 by Crooked Lane, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

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

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

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

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

Four stars. 

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

The Book Lover's Guide to Paris

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

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

Four stars. Well written and useful guide. 

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

What Song the Sirens Sang - Gideon Sable #3

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

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

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

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

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

Illuminations: Stories

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

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

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

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

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

Bones of Holly - Sarah Booth Delaney #25

 

 

Bones of Holly is the 25th Sarah Booth Delaney cozy mystery by Carolyn Haines. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

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

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

Four stars. Cozy mystery comfort food.

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

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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