Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries - Emily Wilde #1

Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries is a wonderfully engaging fantasy series starter by Heather Fawcett. Released 10th Jan 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Del Rey imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is such a beautifully written, appealing, and entertaining book. It's a fantasy homage to the Victorian/Edwardian naturalist field studies of the period and it's jolly well done, complete with footnotes and observations galore. The titular protagonist, young fiercely bookish Dr. Emily Wilde is ferociously intelligent and academic, but mostly at sea when it comes to navigating interpersonal relationships. She finds it easier to confine herself to codifying the unspoken rules which govern the fair folk than to understand the same with her fellow humans. 

There is (naturally) an element of slow-burn romance in the form of an undisguised frenemy, the exasperating (but devilishly handsome) Dr. Wendell Brambleby, well-born, charming, and infuriatingly indolent.

For fans of Katherine Arden, Natasha Pulley, Cat Rambo, and Catherynne Valente, this book will recall the wonderful feelings from those authors' books. It's not derivative in any way, but it *is* magical. I also enjoyed that despite being set in the early Edwardian period, the author doesn't have any problems dispensing with the more annoyingly rigid social mores of the time. Dr. Wilde is refreshingly forward thinking and the book simply ignores the inconvenient proscriptions against women being unchaperoned and engaging in academic careers on a level playing field with their male colleagues.

Five stars. Gorgeous. Looking forward to finding out what comes next. 

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

Hidden in the Pines

Hidden in the Pines is the second book of a tie-in series to Loon Lake by Victoria Houston. Released 10th Jan 2023 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback due out in Dec 2022. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

The author is a competent storyteller and the book is redolent with scenes of small town life and rural living. She's clearly familiar with the outdoorsy life and it adds a great deal of verisimilitude to the story. The action is mostly straightforward; there aren't a lot of twists and turns and few red-herrings to confuse along the way.

Protagonist Lew Ferris is just starting her job as the newly-elected sheriff of McBride county in the Wisconsin northwoods, and she's already dealing with a tragic drowning death/murder? with creepy parallels to a case from 3 decades before, money laundering with dangerous potential to harm the people she loves, as well as heaping helpings of sexism and an entrenched "old boys" network. No time for trout fishing in her near future.

This is a standalone series and it doesn't seem necessary to be familiar with the author's other series to follow along here. It's a procedural(ish) mystery and the denouement and resolution were satisfying and complete. This is book 2, and there are 19 books extant in her other series, so it might be a good candidate for a binge read. 

Three and a half stars. 

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

The Girl They All Forgot - Lake District Mystery #8

The Girl They All Forgot is the 8th Lake District thriller/mystery by Martin Edwards. Released 7th June 2022 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 352 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 long-running series with established characters which are so well fleshed out at this point that they really seem to have a life of their own. The author is adept at his craft and the plotting and settings are well rendered and believable. Despite being book 8, the plot is self-contained in this book, so it can be read as a standalone. The entire series is well written and would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read, but it's not strictly speaking necessary to read them in order. 

This volume's plot turns on a very old cold case mystery disappearance (presumed murder), trial, acquittal, and suicide of the man acquitted of the presumed crime. Precisely 20 years later, on the anniversary of his father's suicide, the son is found also drowned, reopening the original disappearance. 

The story is more a psychological thriller than strictly a mystery, and I found much of the book quite melancholy and steeped in nostalgia. It's very well and subtly written; the author has a deft touch with characterizations and settings especially. The denouement and resolution are well written and satisfying.

Four stars. A good addition to the series and highly recommended. Definitely one for fans of Elly Griffiths, Ann Cleeves, and Peter May. 

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

 

Blue Jeans

 

Blue Jeans is a collection of short essays and reminiscences by Carolyn Purnell about a ubiquitous and often overlooked item in everyone's landscape in every part of the world, humble blue denim jeans. Due out 12th Jan 2023 from Bloomsbury Academic, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats (ebook currently available as of Dec 2022). 

This is one of a series of books on everyday items called "Object Lessons" which team writers' observations and experiences with material foci which make up our lives: recipes, stickers, bookshelves, bulletproof vests, traffic, TVs, and trees to give a few examples. Currently there are 80 books available on a wide variety of objects and I've been impressed with the quality of the writing and frankly, the profundity, to be found in contemplation of these everyday objects.

The author does a very good job of first objectifying and deconstructing the concept of jeans - what they are, where they came from (which includes fascinating and not entirely comfortable cultural history), how they came to be part of the daily life of virtually every human on the planet, and how they've shaped, changed, and broken social barriers.

There's a solid bibliography included with resources for further reading as well as a cross referenced index.

I have enjoyed a number of the books in this series. This one is erudite and thought provoking. It's a worthwhile addition to the series as a whole. The author has included some relevant historical photos, but it's the text that stands in central focus.

Four and a half stars. This would be an excellent choice for school or public library acquisition as well as home reading.

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

 

Snuffed Out - Magic Candle Shop Mystery #1

Snuffed Out is the first book in a new shopfront paranormal cozy series by Valona Jones. Due out 10th Jan 2023 from Crooked Lane, it's 304 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback 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 and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

Twin sisters (one of whom has a *past* and refuses to use her psychic powers) co-own a small candle/crystal/new age shop. A thoroughly unlikable customer is found dead. Amateur sleuths Tabby and Sage to the rescue. The small-town cozy vibe and eccentric secondary characters are in full parade. There were some problematic inclusions: an insensitive ethnic slur on page 3 made me sit up straight and think "yowza"... there's also an LGBTQIA+ character so gracelessly rendered as a prop, it made my eyes roll up in my head. 

Three stars. The dialogue is rough and choppy in places and there are a number of over the top plot developments, but it's a cozy and readable story, and a promising start to the series. This would be a good for readers who enjoy paranormal storefront cozies. 

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

Dogs Who Work: The Canines We Can't Live Without

Dogs Who Work is a well written nonfiction selection for children by Valeria Aloise. Due out 10th Jan 2023 from Helvetiq, it's 104 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

Originally published in French, this English language translation is well written and beautifully illustrated. The text is easy to understand and is written at a middle-grade reader level. The book is full of working dogs doing their jobs which are explained clearly in words and pictures. The art, by Margot Tissot, is well rendered and full of charm and whimsy. The translation work is done by Jeffrey K. Butt and is seamless and unobtrusive and doesn't read as though it's been translated (which is of course the intention). 

Four stars. This would be a wonderful selection for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving. 

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

The Master of Mysteries

The Master of Mysteries is a mystery featuring a magician with incredible cold reading and observational skills written by Gelett Burgess. Originally released in 1912, this reformat and re-release as part of the Library of Congress Crime Classics series from publisher Poisoned Pen Press is 496 pages in this edition and is available in paperback and ebook formats- 

The original release of this book has the distinction of being the very first book published on Richard Lupoff's Surinam Turtle imprint, back in 1912 without an author credit. Additionally, the clever (if dated) volume included three ciphers for real life sleuths to solve, one of which was the name of the author. Burgess will be better known to most readers as the author of the children's "Goops" books and also has the dubious distinction of writing the "Purple Cow" poem, to the perennial delight of youngsters for more than a century: "I never saw a purple cow. I never hope to see one; But I can tell you, anyhow, I'd rather see than be one!".

Nevertheless, this is a collection of cases solved by main character Astro, the seer of secrets (and master of mysteries). There's a distinct Sherlock Holmes vibe to the way he notices details, seemingly pulls the solution to the mystery out of thin air, and then has to explain his process to his assistant, the lovely Valeska Wynne. 

The 24 short stories are more or less written to the same formula: a mystery, the drama, resolution with a seemingly impossible solution, and an explanation to Valeska pointing out the obscure details noted by Astro which synthesized into the correct answer. Although not derivative, it reminded me in some ways of a period version of "Psych", a TV series with a similar methodology. 

The author gets kudos for apparently being a very intelligent and humorous individual despite being born in Boston and raised as a Boston Elite. He soon ran away to California, getting a job as a professor at Berkeley and knocking over the Cogswell temperance statue. According to Wikipedia, we also have him to thank for coining the word "blurb". 

Four stars. This would be a superlative choice for fans of period mystery. The entire LoC Crime Classics series are worthwhile and this is a good addition. 

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

City Under One Roof

 

City Under One Roof is a mystery thriller by Iris Yamashita. Due out 10th Jan 2023 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and will be available in hardcover, audio, and paperback formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is such an atmospheric/creepy mystery. Set in an isolated tiny hamlet in rural Alaska in what had been an army base, the 200+ residents all live in the same building with outlying (mostly subterranean) buildings used as functional business sites and entertainment venues (such as they are). It's very much an island/isolation setting with most of the dramatic tension coming from the gradual exposure of secrets and crimes for each of the primary characters. 

Chapters are told in third person, rotating through the main characters which are, admittedly, quite diverse: an Asian mother and daughter who run the local restaurant, a curmudgeonly apartment building super who might have been a bank robber in her former life, a gruff police chief who has an odd caretaker relationship with a young woman with trauma and mental challenges who has a pet moose called Denny, an aging (extremely creepy) Japanese cabaret singer, and several others. Despite the quirky characters there's very little humor to be found. The book's tension arc is mostly unrelieved, ratcheting up throughout to an oddly not-wholly-satisfying denouement and resolution. 

The writing is competent and *very* cinematic. The scenery and descriptions are three dimensional and complete. I expect the movie rights are already hashed out, and the author (an Academy Award nominated screenwriter) will be able to knock the script out in a long weekend with a 6-pack of energy drinks and local takeaway restaurant on speed-dial. 

The book's main problem for me was the immoderate everything-including-the-kitchen-sink plotline. It felt overcrowded. Some of the tension was lost, for example, in the descriptions of the delivery of Chinese food to residents through the eerie hallways of the residential complex with readers expecting a jump-scare any second. Another issue was the seemingly random addition of two "wait, what??!!" twists in the *epilogue* of the book. I would also add a fervent prayer that most police departments don't work that way, hopefully. 

Four stars, mostly for the descriptions. I like "island" mysteries. This one was better than ok, but not superlative. 

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

Stuffed

Stuffed is a wonderful collection of tutorials and 65 mix-and-match recipes for sandwich cookies by Heather Mubarak. Due out 4th April 2023 from Chronicle Books, it's a comprehensive 272 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

The concept is quite simple. There are lots (and LOTS) of cookie recipes as well as mix and match fillings to turn them into sandwich cookies. There are basic classic recipes (chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter) as well as gorgeous up-to-the-minute insta-perfect recipes (lavender shortbread with meyer lemon curd, rosemary pine nut sablés with whipped goat cheese and more). 

The recipes include an introduction, ingredients in a bullet list sidebar, and step-by-step preparation and cooking instructions. Ingredient measurements are given in imperial (American) units with metric in parentheses (yay!). The author goes into a great deal of detail with specific ingredients, especially different types of flour and sugar, some of which might require a specialist grocery with a good selection of baking goods. Nutritional information is not included, thank goodness.

The photography is stellar, clear and in color. 

Five stars. 

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

Rivers Of London: Deadly Ever After

 

Rivers Of London: Deadly Ever After is the 10th Rivers of London graphic novel, adapted from the RoL series by Ben Aaronovitch. Released in comiXology/ebook format in Nov 2022, this paperback format from Titan is 112 pages and will be released 24th Jan 2023. 

This is a worthy addition to the canon. The graphic novel format is different than the longer book-form novels, but add an interesting background depth in the side stories. The writing in this volume is by Celeste Bronfman, and she has an appealing knack with the rapid fire sarcastic humour and intelligent, sometimes absurd, repartee. Fans of Aaronovitch will feel at home.The art, with pencils by José María Beroy is detailed and intricate and captures the fantasy element well. I can believe that these foxes can talk.  

For readers unfamiliar with the series, this is the 10th graphic novel based on the original urban fantasy Rivers of London books which are up to (*checking online*) 9 main books plus assorted novellas and shorter stories. This particular graphic novel is well scripted and readers coming into the read without prior exposure will not be lost, but will also not get the full background. 

Four stars. These graphic novels are satisfying intermezzos between the main series. 

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

Robert B. Parker's Revenge Tour

 

Robert B. Parker's Revenge Tour  is the 10th Sunny Randall mystery, this one penned very much in the style of the late lamented RBP capably and respectfully by Mike Lupica. Released 3rd May 2022 by Penguin Random House on their G.P. Putnam's Sons imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audiobook, and ebook formats. Paperback due out in late 1st quarter 2023. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

There are undeniably pitfalls with posthumous series continuations by authors. The characters are well loved, especially by die-hard fans of the canonical works, who are more than capable of finding the smallest discrepancies and continuity problems. I came into Parker's posthumous series books with some trepidation, since all three of the series (Spenser, Stone, and Randall) were guaranteed booklist reads for me. Parker was always entertaining, always a gifted writer, and such a deft craftsman that I still revisit his books decades later. I needn't have worried. This book slots quite seamlessly into the canon and was a worthwhile and enjoyable read. It's tightly plotted, engaging, and really well written in the style of Parker himself. There is some on-page violence and gunplay and the language is R-rated (some strong cursing, some sexual content - nothing NSFW though.

Four stars. As the 10th book in the series, it would be a superlative choice for a long binge read. For fans of gritty, cleverly constructed PI tales in the classic mold.

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

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.