Heartman - Detective J.T. Ellington #1

Heartman is the first Detective J.T. Ellington noir mystery by M.P. Wright. Originally released in 2014, this reformat and re-release from Black & White publishing is 256 pages and is available in most 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.

This is a gritty character driven noir mystery with a retro vibe which manages to conjure up the seedier side of 1960s Bristol very well.  The protagonist JT is flawed, down on his luck, nearly homeless, and broken hearted. I was so impressed by the writing. The characters are well rendered and believable, and the dialogue flows well and adds a lot to the period ambiance. 

The working parts of the mystery fit together quite well and the climax, denouement, and resolution were self-contained and satisfying. The series has 4 extant works (3 books and a short story appearance) and would make a good long weekend binge read or possibly a buddy read. There are some distressingly realistic portrayals of racism, xenophobia, human trafficking and violent graphic murder. Some of the action scenes remind me in ways of the Hap & Leonard books by Joe Lansdale although, admittedly, there's not a lot of humour here to lighten the mood. Language and vernacular are 60's UK English (torch, bloody, bedsit, etc), but shouldn't prove a problem to North American readers in context. 

Four stars. This is a solid mystery and a promising series start. 

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

The Best American Short Stories 2022

 

The Best American Short Stories 2022 is a well curated anthology edited by Andrew Sean Green (guest editor for 2022) & Heidi Pitlor (series editor). Released 1st Nov 2022 by HarperCollins on their Mariner imprint, it's 352 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

 This is an extremely engaging and thought provoking anthology of short fiction published in North American magazines in Jan 2021-Jan 2022. It's a wide ranging collection with a darker character and more dystopian feel than in earlier years. It's not a surprise, given the world situation with the pandemic, upheaval, economic uncertainty, and much of the world *literally* on fire as these stories were being born. Nevertheless, gloomy outlooks aside, the quality of the writing is undisputedly top shelf. The authors (many of whom were previously unfamiliar to me) are well versed in the subtleties of their craft. All 20 stories are supremely readable, some of them are sublime. 

The lead story, A Ravishing Sun, by Leslie Blanco, was a definite high point of the anthology and stuck in my mind long after reading. All of the selections were in the 3-5 star range, but that one really stood out for me.

One reason I like 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. The guest editor for this volume provides a well written intro and commentary and, as always, the background comments are interesting and informative. I enjoyed and used the "Other Distinguished Stories of 2021" lists included in the volume for even more good recommendations for further reading. 

Four stars on average. It's a diverting and worthwhile read to be savored like a box of chocolates. This would make a good selection for public library acquisition as well as for home readers looking for a solid anthology of stories which will also likely serve as an introduction to lots of new authors to search out.

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

I Can Draw Disney: Magical Characters: Draw Mushu, Tinker Bell, Chip, and other cute Disney characters!

I Can Draw Disney is a general step-by-step guide with tutorials for drawing Disney characters. Released 16th Nov 2021 by Quarto on their Walter Foster Jr. imprint, it's 32 pages and is available in paperback format. 

This booklet is full of instantly recognizable Disney animated stars including Tinker Bell, Mushu, Sorcerer's Apprentice Micky Mouse, and 6 more. The very short introduction covers basic selection of tools and supplies and how the tutorials are presented in step-by-step progressive format. 

Each of the tutorials contain step by step line drawings with tips and tricks for rendering the subjects. The tutorials are -very- abbreviated with only the briefest intermediate steps illustrated. Most readers will either need to have a great deal of previous experience or bring prodigious amounts of patience and persistence to see good results.

It's colorful and appealing and the subjects are clearly perennial favorites, but it's quite curious that this guide is bundled and marketed to 6-8 year olds (Lexile 1230L). It will provide inspiration for drawing practice but not as a standalone resource. For adults who work with youngsters in classroom or group settings, it could be a nice art-room or group library acquisition. Also with adult help (or for primary use by more experienced artists) it could be a good choice for the home library or studio as a reference. 

Four stars, with the codicil that younger kids will likely find it frustrating as a standalone tutorial.

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

In Too Steep - Misty Bay Tearoom #2

In Too Steep is the second Misty Bay Tea Room cozy by Kate Kingsbury. Released 9th Aug 2022 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 3rd 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 a nice follow-up to the series starter and will please fans of small-town shopfront cozy mysteries. Protagonist Vivian is an intelligent and active widow and the owner of the Misty Bay Tea Room. When a local beachcomber dies under suspicious circumstances, she's soon involved in another mystery and up to her neck in danger, jewel theft, and murder. 

The author is prolific and experienced. The plotting is quite linear, but the characters are well rendered and the dialogue flows well. The language is clean (PG) and there's no on page graphic violence. The climax, denouement, and resolution are all self contained in this volume, and it works well as a standalone.

Four stars. Fans of Cleo Coyle, Paige Shelton, and Sue Minix will find a lot to like with this book. It's a light cozy read. 

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

California Fever

California Fever is a light and breezy "caper" mystery by John J. Jacobsen. Released 5th July 2022 by Blackstone, it's  160 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. 

This is a fun and very light mystery(ish) story set in southern California and featuring lots of surfer culture and appealingly off-kilter characters. Dolphin Smoote just wants to catch waves and earn money without having to work for it. He has a love interest who mere presence renders him tongue-tied and flustered. The secondary characters are variously adorable, silly, and questionable.

In a lot of good ways it reminded me of a more grown-up episode of Scooby-Doo. There's a lot of whimsy and humor, and if the writing isn't terribly polished, at least it suits the narrative very well.

Three and a half stars. It's a standalone and a fast read. It would be a good choice for a pick-up-and-put-down commute or break read.

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

Starter Vegetable Gardens: 24 No-Fail Plans for Small Organic Gardens

Starter Vegetable Gardens is a beginner friendly tutorial guide with plans for starting and succeeding with small organic gardens by Barbara Pleasant. Due out 7th Feb 2023 from Storey, it's 232 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

Storey is quite well known for high quality lifestyle, gardening, and sustainable living titles. This is a classic, and lives up to their standards. There's a logical progressive layout which takes readers through planning, siting, selecting, planting, soil improvement, harvesting and other necessary tasks using accessible, easy to understand language supported by good clear photography and schematics.

The book also includes several appendices: a glossary and definitions list, a metric conversion chart, an overview over the garden plans included in the book, as well as a short resource and seed vendor list. Vendors are slanted toward readers in North America, but with online vendors, availability shouldn't be problematic for readers living elsewhere. 

Five stars. This would make a good choice for smallholders, gardening / allotment groups, public or school library acquisition, and for the home gardener. 

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

The Destructionists: The Twenty-Five Year Crack-Up of the Republican Party

The Destructionists is a wide-ranging look at the fundamental rot currently plaguing the GoP and how it developed over the last 25 years from Newt Gingrich on, written by Dana Milbank. Released 9th Aug 2022 by Doubleday, 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a very well written, meticulously researched, annotated, and by turns infuriating and depressing excoriation of the Republican party as it stands in the USA. The author is a political commentator and analyst for the Washington Post. He draws a direct line, connecting the points along the way, from the ousting of  house Republican minority speaker Bob Michel by Newt Gingrich and the following antagonistic and increasingly violent rhetoric which has become characteristic of American politics today.

It's impossible to read the book without becoming indignant (and/or nauseous) and outraged. I was left with an overwhelming feeling of futility and powerlessness. It's an important book, but one which the readers whose mind should be changed will ignore, and the ones who do understand the critical danger facing the USA will feel powerless to impact.

Four and a half stars. There were some repetitions in the text of the same players and the same occurrences discussed in differing contexts which felt like continual body blows and a rogues gallery of obstructionist destruction.

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

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022

The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2022 is a well curated anthology curated and edited by Rebecca Roanhorse. Released 12th Nov 2022 by HarperCollins on their Mariner imprint, it's 432 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

There are 20 stories by my count and they're from authors both familiar and new to me. The stories are varied, there were (as always) some which didn't grab me personally, but all were well written and competently plotted. They were mostly in the 3.5-4 star range with a a fair smattering of really standout stories. This is a well done anthology.

One reason I like 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. The guest editor for this volume provides a well written intro and commentary and, as always, the background comments are interesting and informative. I enjoyed and used the honorable mention lists included in the volume for even more good recommendations for further reading. 

Four stars on average. It's a diverting and worthwhile read to be savored like a box of chocolates. This would make a good selection for public library acquisition as well as for home readers looking for a solid anthology of stories which will also likely serve as an introduction to lots of new authors to search out.

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

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone is a fantasy/romance magical realism fable set in dual timelines by Audrey Burges. Released 24th Jan 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 352 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a nicely written, eminently readable story full of small and large magics, with whimsy and romance, and tragedy sprinkled liberally throughout. The plot is meandering and often doubles back on itself and the whole relies mostly on the well rendered characters to carry the story. I was intrigued by the story of a real-life genius loci in rural Virginia which has a mirrored miniature focus (don't call it a dollhouse) in the possession of a reclusive young woman in Arizona. 

It's partly a family dynasty story with archetypal antagonists in the form of a rigid and cruel clan matriarch & patriarch. I found some of the chapters set in the past timeline rather meandering and unclear, contrasted with the crisply modern chapters in the current timeline. It seems likely that the differences in writing style were conscious on the author's part. The language is relatively clean, and there's nothing graphic. There are some discussions of death and mental illness/suicide ideation/PTSD but nothing which would likely be triggering for most readers. 

Well written, likely more appealing for YA/NA readers. It's self contained in this volume, and the denouement and resolution are satisfying and complete (though somewhat open ended, leaving the possibility for a sequel). 

Four stars. An oddly whimsical read. 

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

A Coup of Tea - Tea Princess Chronicles #1

A Coup of Tea is the first book in a YA fantasy romance series by Casey Blair. Originally published in 2017, this reformat and re-release, out 2nd Aug 2022 is 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a cozy riches-to-rags princess fantasy set in a pastiche Asian world. Princess Miyara runs away from her royal life with basically the clothes on her back and washes up in another town, working in a tea shop. It's a sweetly romantic fantasy and will appeal to a young(ish) audience. There are positive female and non-binary portrayals. The book is mostly character driven and it's not a high stress/drama filled read. Reading comfort food. 

There are three books in the series plus a few shorter stories already published. It's the product of a kickstarter backed project (not traditional in-house publishing), so the book could likely have benefited from a more thorough editing/polishing process; but it's perfectly readable and entertaining in this form. 

Four stars. For fans of The House Witch and Miss Percy, there's a lot of similar comforting female positive fantasy here as well. Eminently readable. Probably mostly appealing to YA/NA readers. 

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

Waste of a Life - Decluttering Mysteries #3

 

Waste of a Life is the third book in the decluttering mystery series by Simon Brett. Released 6th Dec 2022 by Severn House, it's 192 pages and 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.

The author writes entertainingly and well. All the parts (and they are varied and numerous) fit together and do precisely what they're meant to do. The characters are believable and well rendered. The dialogue works and is never clunky or awkward. Although this series isn't fluffy enough (in my estimation) to fit firmly into the cozy mold, it's not at all gritty, either. In short, it's a modern British murder mystery with a well plotted story arc, some not-too-graphic crimes, some humour, and a satisfying denouement and resolution. For readers who enjoy modern amateur sleuths without paranormal aspects, talking cats, telepathy, and crystals, this series is blessedly free of them.

A fair bit of the book does revolve around mental illness (expectedly since the protagonist is a de-clutterer and works with professional local social services to help clients). The author manages to treat the subjects sensitively, but some readers could conceivably find some of the subject matter and situations triggering.

I found it a delightful read and despite the potentially serious subplot elements, Mr. Brett manages to imbue the whole with enough humour to make it an entertaining and quick read. North American readers should be aware that it's written in British vernacular (faffing around, lift, flat, etc), but this shouldn't pose any problems in context.

Four stars. Really well done. With three books currently extant in the series and such a prolific author, this would make a good choice for a binge/buddy read. Recommended for fans of not-terribly-fluffy modern cozies. Fans of M.C. Beaton, G.M. Malliet, and Anthony Horowitz will likely enjoy these also.

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

Cheddar Late Than Dead - Grilled Cheese Mysteries #3

Cheddar Late Than Dead is the third Grilled Cheese shopfront cozy by Linda Reilly. Released 31st Jan 2023 by Poisoned Pen Press, it's 358 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 small town cozy. The usual village eccentric secondary characters are present and cheese shop cafe owner Carly has to put her amateur sleuthing skills to the test to save her friend from prosecution when Klarissa's soon-to-be-husband is found poisoned after a very public pre-wedding argument. 

Much of the book's plot arc is outlandish and silly in true cozy-mystery manner. The dialogue is rough in places, but overall, it's a fun light read. I like main character Carly's honesty and loyalty to her friends. There are tons of cheesy puns throughout, and the author has included a few recipes, including cheddar cheese donuts, which admittedly raised some eyebrows. 

The language and action are squeaky clean. Despite being the third book in the series, the mystery, denouement, and resolution are all self contained in this installment and it works perfectly well as a standalone. With three books extant in the series at this point, it would be a good candidate for a mini-binge read or buddy read. 

Four stars. Fans of small-town shopfront cozies will likely enjoy this one as well. Recommended for fans of Korina Moss, Vivien Chien, and Amanda Fowler, this is another fun (somewhat silly) addition. 

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

The City Inside

The City Inside is an interesting and densely written near-future dystopian reality SF novel by Samit Basu. Originally published in India in 2020 as Chosen Spirits, this reformat and re-release by Simon & Schuster on their Tor imprint is 256 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback release is due out from the same publisher in second 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. 

This is a very intricate and densely layered fictional world. It's a difficult read in places due to the dreamlike, angry, and nuanced narrative. It's meandering and definitely a book to be experienced rather than read specifically for the story, which is not at all linear. Although a difficult read, the quality of the writing is very high and the author was not on my radar in any way previously. I appreciate Tor.com for their efforts publishing and promoting gifted international authors to English speaking audiences. 

This is a worthwhile but not simple read, from an author who is clearly talented and who has a clear vision. My view during the read was not entirely unobstructed, but I am certainly intrigued enough to read more of the author's fiction. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 9 hours, 16 minutes and is capably narrated by Reena Dutt. She has a versatile and soothing voice and enunciates clearly and well. The sound and production quality are high throughout the read.

Three and a half stars. Intriguing and complex. 

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

Lettering on Wood, Paper and Leather: A Pyrography Workbook

Lettering on Wood, Paper and Leather is a well written and accessible pyrography workbook by Lora S. Irish. Released 3rd Jan 2023 by Fox Chapel, it's 96 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is a beginner friendly guide that presupposes no previous experience. It's written in easy to understand language and has a logical layout. The author provides a good introduction to pyrography including tools, supplies, and a concise short overview over safety and the different options for burning tools. I liked that she doesn't recommend one brand of tools over others, and all the brand names are blurred out or fig-leafed in the photos.

The intro chapters are followed by the project tutorials, grouped thematically: supplies and planning a project, lettering and font, troubleshooting, cleaning & finishing/sealing, and 6 start-to-finish tutorials for lettered signs and decorative items. Templates are included in the book. It's very well and clearly photographed throughout, and action shots are unobstructed, without fingers or items in the way of the "action".  The projects themselves are appealing and upbeat and will make attractive gifts or home decorations.

Five stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, makers groups, activity groups, and the home crafter's studio. 

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

The Flower-Infused Cocktail: Flowers with a Twist

The Flower-Infused Cocktail is a bar book with recipes by Alyson Brown. Due out 1st Feb 2023 from Rowman & Littlefield on their Globe Pequot imprint, it's 188 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

This is a beautifully illustrated and aesthetically appealing book of cocktail recipes all featuring edible flowers. The author is an experienced and knowledgeable herbalist and it's clear from her writing that she's genuinely enthusiastic about helping readers enjoy a "flower infused life". 

The book is arranged logically and proceeds from basic info (necessary equipment and glassware), base infusions to build drinks around (including some adventurous choices such as artichoke and pineapple weed), bitters & tinctures, salt & sugar, cordials liqueurs shrubs & syrups, floral water & tea, garnishes, and mocktails (alcohol free). 

Recipes are given with recipe ingredients in a bullet list, followed by step by step mixing instructions. Recipe ingredients are listed with imperial (American) measurements only. The book is beautifully illustrated with vibrant color photos and finished drinks which are well styled and appealing.

Five stars. Cocktails and special party drinks can be refined and so appealing. Adding flowers is an intriguing and appealing twist on traditional cocktails. This would be a good choice for public library acquisition and home use. 

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

Murder at the Bookstore - The Bookstore Mystery #1

 

Murder at the Bookstore is the first book in a new storefront bookish cozy series by Sue Minix. Released 19th Jan 2023 by HarperCollins on their Avon Books imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a promising start for fans of small town shopfront cozies. Crime novelist Jen is drawn into real-life sleuthing when her friend (and owner of her local book-and-coffee shop) dies under violent circumstances. The usual pool of small-town-oddball characters are present, there's skullduggery and hidden motives to be unearthed, and there's the hint of developing romance/frenemies between Jen and a local guy. 

Some of the characterizations and plot developments are admittedly a bit over the top and there are some twists which require a healthy suspension of disbelief, but all in all, it's a pretty good example of why the shopfront cozy subgenre is so popular. I found the denouement and resolution unexpectedly violent and abrupt but fairly well written.

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 8 hours and 48 minutes and is narrated by Rebecca LaChance. She has an interesting and nuanced voice. She enunciates very well and although her voice is youthful (she's young), it doesn't detract from the read at all. The sound and production quality of the recording were high throughout.

Four stars. This would be a good light read for fans of cozies. It would be perfectly safe for work/commute reading. I'm interested to see what comes next for Jen and the bookshop.

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

Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy

Outsmart Your Brain is a practical manual full of good strategies for learning how to learn and retain information collected and curated by Dr. Daniel Willingham. Due out 24th Jan 2023 from Simon & Schuster on their Gallery imprint, it's 336 pages and will be available in hardback, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback 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 throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a well researched, practice based guide to learning how to learn. The information is aimed at doing well and performing in school, but there are great takeaways for all-ages (meeting participants, committees, work groups, etc).

The information is arranged thematically: How to:

• understand lectures, 
• take notes, 
• learn from labs/activities/demonstrations, 
• reorganize notes, 
• read difficult books, 
• study for exams, 
• judge exam readiness
• take tests
• learn from past exams
• plan work
• defeat procrastination (super good tips)
• stay focused
• gain self confidence
• cope with anxiety

The author writes authoritatively and accessibly in plain language and includes practical, usable, concrete suggestions for improving performance and learning. Throughout the book, Dr. Willingham includes anecdotes from his career as an educator which underline *how* to make learning *enjoyable* (and thus more successful). I sincerely wish I'd had access to this book during my own study years. 

The bibliography is full of well curated/analyzed sources and likely worth the price of the book for educators and teachers.

Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, as well as home use. 

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

The Motion Picture Teller

The Motion Picture Teller is a standalone semi-mystery and retro slice of life adventure by Colin Cotterill. Released 17th Jan 2022 by Soho Press on their Soho Crime imprint, it's 241 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 whimsical, distinctly odd book featuring a pair of well meaning but generally hapless idiots who are a slice of ham short of a sandwich. Supot is a postman who gets mauled by local canines on a regular basis on his daily rounds. Ali is a video store owner in "Little Bangkok" across the river from the city proper, who tries very hard to be left alone by customers so he and Sunpot can watch the movies from the golden age of Hollywood in peace without any interruptions. 

Colin Cotterill is a wonderful author, and fans of his Siri Paiboun books (HIGHLY recommended) will see glimmers of the same whimsy and warm regard for SE Asia, its culture, and its inhabitants in this book. There's a lot of clever-ish repartee, and subtle nods and in-jokes which fans of classic film will recognise. After that, though, this is quite an odd ride. The writing is way more than competent. The characterisations are well rendered and appealing (if not particularly believable), and the plot is slowly meandering and seemingly equipped with its own agenda. 

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 6 hours, 40 minutes and is chiefly narrated by Steven Crossley, with scene/background interludes narrated by Amy Scanlon. There is some noticeably odd/uncomfortable phrasing and dramatic timing in the recording which is clearly intentional on the part of the author but which added an extra frisson of tension to an overall odd read. Sound and production quality were high throughout the recording. 

Definitely an odd but worthwhile read; hopefully the start of another series. Current fans of the author will enjoy this offering. Readers who are not yet fans of the author's style will be bewildered, but hopefully entranced enough to give it a fair go. 

Four stars. 

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

Lady of Bones

 

Lady of Bones is the 24th Sarah Booth Delaney cozy mystery by Carolyn Haines. Released 14th June 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 an entertaining and engaging book in an engaging series by a competent writer. There's a strong paranormal element (the main character's sort of haunted by her great-great grandmother's nanny, a black woman named Jitty who has Opinions and lots of confusingly cryptic advice). MC Sarah Booth Delaney's also a PI and this installment sees her getting to the bottom of a string of Hallowe'en disappearances over the last 5 years of young women in the New Orleans area. She's soon entangled in cults with charismatic leaders, witchcraft, and possibly even human sacrifice. The settings are a living, breathing, immersive part of the story and the author does a superlative job with them.

The plotting is often meandering (it's a cozy with almost 400 pages), and there's quite a lot of "fluff" to add humor including a generous helping of cooing over best friend Tinkie's new baby, Maylin. The characters are quirky and appealing and there's a lot of goodwill and heart in the series. Ms. Haines is quite an adept author and I never found my interest waning, although there were a few eye-rollingly silly moments. The denouement and resolution weren't overly surprising, but they were satisfying. This series is dependably entertaining and fun, and this one is worth a read. The ensemble cast and returning characters mean that readers who are new to the story might want to read a few in the series prior to this one first, although it's simple enough to probably work well enough as a standalone. There are dogs, some cats, the language is clean, and there's light (off page) sexual content, but nothing explicit. The book is full of southernisms like "bless your heart" and "y'all" and more sweet-tea than you can shake a stick at.

Four stars. Cozy mystery comfort food.

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

Pryor & Cummings The GAIA Incident

Pryor & Cummings The GAIA Incident is a really well written techno thriller locked room mystery by Rod Pennington. Released 24th May 2022, it's 266 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 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 murder of a research assistant in a highly secure research facility draws Detective Pryor off a suspension back to active duty, paired with a young detective Cummings. The interplay and dialogue between the two added a lot to the read. The addition of interrelationships between Pryor's family and the facility in which the murder took place as well as the arrival of the FBI and inter-agency rivalry add some interest and complexity.

Aside from having a good grasp of plotting and characterization, it's intricately and cleverly constructed. I love locked room "no suspect" mysteries and this is a good one. There are technical aspects in the story, but nothing which would render it problematic to laymen. It's not necessary to have a grasp of geophysics to understand what's going on at all. I was nonplussed by some of the author's descriptions of "stereotypical" science geeks, which were unnecessarily cliché and condescending.

Four stars. Well written and engaging. Some rough language and situations but nothing really egregious.

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