Exploring Science and Art: Discovering Connections Between the Nature of Science and the Science of Art

Exploring Science and Art is an intriguing look at the interconnections between STE(A)M and our perceptions of both art -and- science presented by Mary Kirsch Boehm. Released 1st July by City of Light, it's 224 pages and is available in paperback format. 

This is a layman accessible examination of the intersection and interplay between the arts and sciences and how creativity is necessary and indelibly entwined with the pursuit of advances in both. It's an academic work, written by a professional educator and as such, is exhaustively annotated. It's not at all dry however, and readers who are interested in the subject matter will find a great deal of well presented information to ponder here. 

The subject matter is presented in a logical progression: from the larger overarching themes (interconnectedness and relationships between science and art and the similarities between methods of thinking) to specifics of materials & techniques, light and color, conservation (fascinating info here, including copious notes for further reading), and the nature of matter including biodiversity and weather, biology, and astronomy and how they've defined and informed art and science.

This is a fascinating and information dense work. It's not light reading, by any stretch, but it is fascinating and well worth a look for readers interested in the subjects. It would make an excellent course instruction for wide ranging subjects - a science heavy book for artists/students, and a look at art with an artistic sensibility which will challenge STEM folks. 

Four and a half stars. It would be a good choice for public or university library acquisition or as a resource for related classroom instruction (at post secondary level). It's admittedly a niche book, but very well done. 

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

Grow Great Vegetables in Minnesota & Wisconsin

Grow Great Vegetables in Minnesota & Wisconsin is a regionally tailored home gardening guide for producing vegetables for taste and nutrition and to increase self-reliance and food security. This is one of a series of regionally/state specific guides released & reformatted by Timber press. Edited by Bevin Cohen, it's due out in May 2023, runs 212 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's based on an earlier release Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest by Michael VanderBrug, reformatted and edited for MN & WI gardeners. All of the guides in this series follow the same format.

This guide is arranged by seasons with a chapter for each month. The introductory chapter (~13% of the page content) covers garden planning, climates and subzones in MN & WI, as well as very general gardening advice. Worth noting that a majority of the content of the books in this series based on/edited from the same volume (in this case Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest) contain overlapping information and there are only slight differences in content and recommendations.

The monthly sections include tasks for each month, potential problems and troubleshooting, planning and placement of the garden plot, harvesting and more.

The third section of the book is a regional guide to choosing vegetables and specific varieties which will thrive in the area.

There's a resource list (slanted to readers in the Midwest), a bibliography and further reading list, USDA based hardiness zonal map, and an index.  The photography is crisp, clear, and abundant.  This is a well crafted book which will provide gardeners with hours of blissful dreaming as well as serving as a valuable troubleshooting guide. For readers who have the aforementioned Gardening in the Midwest, much of the content is verbatim here. For readers unfamiliar with the earlier title, there's a lot of worthwhile info here.

Four stars. Very well done.

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

Let's Make Cake Pops

Let's Make Cake Pops  is an accessible and well written guide to making adorable cake pop treats aimed at middle grade readers. Released 15th Aug 2022 by Norwood House Press, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover and paperback format. 

Author Mari Bolte has written a fun series of activity books slanted toward young readers with food related DIY activities. This particular volume includes step by step illustrated instructions start to finish, for producing fun and popular cake pops along with some serving suggestions. All steps are clearly photographed with specific and complete tools and ingredients lists. The writing is simple and understandable with all the steps needed for a successful outcome. She also squeezes in an impressive amount of background info without being condescending at all. The vibe of the entire series is upbeat, excited, and cool. 

Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, activity/makers' groups, or gift giving. 

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

Let's Make Bread

 

 

 

 

Let's Make Bread is an accessible and well written guide to breadmaking aimed at middle grade readers. Released 25th Aug 2022 by Norwood House Press, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover and paperback format. 

Author Mari Bolte has written a fun series of activity books slanted toward young readers with food related DIY activities. This particular volume includes step by step illustrated instructions start to finish, for producing a simple loaf of bread along with some serving suggestions. All steps are clearly photographed with specific and complete tools and ingredients lists. The writing is simple and understandable with specific steps to follow for a successful outcome. She squeezes in an impressive amount of chemistry and background info without being condescending at all. The vibe of the entire series is upbeat, excited, and cool. 

Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, activity/makers' groups, or gift giving. 

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

Grow Great Vegetables in Indiana

Grow Great Vegetables in Indiana s a regionally tailored home gardening guide for producing vegetables for taste and nutrition and to increase self-reliance and food security. This is one of a series of regionally/state specific guides released & reformatted by Timber press. Edited by Bevin Cohen, it's due out in May 2023, runs 208 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's based on an earlier release Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest by Michael VanderBrug, reformatted and edited for Indiana gardeners. All of the guides in this series follow the same format.

This guide is arranged by seasons with a chapter for each month. The introductory chapter (~13% of the page content) covers garden planning, climates and subzones in Indiana, as well as very general gardening advice. Worth noting that a majority of the content of the books in this series based on/edited from the same volume (in this case Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest) contain overlapping information and there are only slight differences in content and recommendations.

The monthly sections include tasks for each month, potential problems and troubleshooting, planning and placement of the garden plot, harvesting and more.

The third section of the book is a regional guide to choosing vegetables and specific varieties which will thrive in the area.

There's a resource list (slanted to readers in the Midwest), a bibliography and further reading list, USDA based hardiness zonal map, and an index.  The photography is crisp, clear, and abundant.  This is a well crafted book which will provide gardeners with hours of blissful dreaming as well as serving as a valuable troubleshooting guide. For readers who have the aforementioned Gardening in the Midwest, much of the content is verbatim here. For readers unfamiliar with the earlier title, there's a lot of worthwhile info here.

Four stars. Very well done.

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

 

Grow Great Vegetables Illinois

 

 

 

Grow Great Vegetables Illinois is a regionally tailored home gardening guide for producing vegetables for taste and nutrition and to increase self-reliance and food security. This is one of a series of regionally specific guides released by Timber press. Edited by Bevin Cohen, it's due out in May 2023, runs 212 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. It's based on an earlier release Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest by Michael VanderBrug, reformatted and edited for Illinois gardeners. All of the guides in this series follow the same format.

This guide is arranged by seasons with a chapter for each month. The introductory chapter (~13% of the page content) covers garden planning, climates and subzones in Illinois, as well as very general gardening advice.

The monthly sections include tasks for each month, potential problems and troubleshooting, planning and placement of the garden plot, harvesting and more.

The third section of the book is a regional guide to choosing vegetables and specific varieties which will thrive in the area.

There's a resource list (slanted to readers in the Midwest), a bibliography and further reading list, USDA based hardiness zonal map, and an index.  The photography is crisp, clear, and abundant.  This is a well crafted book which will provide gardeners with hours of blissful dreaming as well as serving as a valuable troubleshooting guide.

Four stars. Very well done.

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

Let's Make Nice Cream

Let's Make Nice Cream is an accessible and well written guide to "nice cream" which is a banana based frozen treat without the added sugars and artificial ingredients in most ice cream. Released 25th Aug 2022 by Norwood House Press, it's 32 pages and is available in hardcover and paperback format. 

Author Mari Bolte has written a fun series of activity books slanted toward young readers with food related DIY activities. This particular volume includes step by step illustrated instructions start to finish, for producing tasty Nice Cream along with a variety of toppings and serving suggestions. All steps are clearly photographed with specific and complete tools and ingredients lists. The writing is simple and understandable with specific steps to follow for a successful outcome. She squeezes in an impressive amount of chemistry and background info without being condescending at all. The vibe of the entire series is upbeat, excited, and cool. 

Five stars. This would be a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, activity/makers' groups, or gift giving. 

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

An Antique Murder (The Oldminster Mysteries #2)

 

An Antique Murder is the second Oldminster mystery by Norman Russell. Released 29th Jan 2022 by Joffe Books, it's 188 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 other books in the series are also available through the KU subscription.

This is a very well written, short, and engaging procedural with a truly disparate cast. There are dodgy characters aplenty: the shady gardener with an eye to profitable sidelines, a gaggle of retired thespians hiding murky pasts, an antiques dealer, and the staff of the Home for Retired Actors in Oldminster. The clues are fair play, and the climax, denouement, and resolution were satisfying and fairly believable. The addition of actions in the distant past (WW2) resonating down through the years to the present day add depth to the story. 

There are three books currently in the series, making it a good candidate for a weekend mini-binge read. The plot is self-contained in this volume, so it works well as a standalone read. 

Four stars.

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

 

Mr Campion's Wings (Mr Campion #9)

Mr Campion's Wings is the ninth book in Mike Ripley's wonderfully written homage to Margery Allingham's Albert Campion. Released 4th Jan 2022 by Severn House, it's 288 pages and 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. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This series has been an absolute joy to read from the beginning. I've been a fan of golden age mystery (especially British) as long as I've been reading, more or less, and I'm always on the lookout for more  since the original authors are sadly long gone. This story turns on cold war espionage, high tech aeronautics, and the shocking arrest (for espionage) of Albert's brilliant wife, Lady Amanda. Lugg is, as always, wonderful, and Campion  is self-deprecatingly and devastatingly brilliant. 

The clues are fair-play, and the climax and denouement are so very satisfyingly Campion. I really love this series. Readers who are not already fans of Mr. Ripley's Campion, but who are fans of Ms. Allingham, will find much to love here. Ripley treats the canon with the respect (and humour) it deserves. Although it's the 9th book in this series (may there be many more), it works well as a standalone. Fans of golden and silver age British crime should see this as a wonderful opportunity for a long binge read.

Five stars.

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

Born for Trouble: The Further Adventures of Hap and Leonard (Hap and Leonard)

 

Born for Trouble is a collection of Hap & Leonard stories by Joe R. Lansdale from 2016-2019. Released 21st March 2022 by Tachyon, it's 310 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats.

Hap & Leonard are simply a mighty force of nature. The stories are violent, outlandish, over the top, and hysterically funny (often at the same time and with a suddenness which leaves the reader with whiplash). Lansdale is such a capable writer that I can simply go along for the ride knowing that he knows where we're going and I can just look around and enjoy the scenery. And what scenery it is. There's a real-ness and urgency to the storytelling that *must* be from the writer's stored experiences. He's simply a virtuoso storyteller and I love his work.

These 5 stories are all worthy of the canon. The stories are introduced by the author himself, who even brings his good game to the writing of the foreword.

5 stars. For readers unfamiliar with Hap & Leonard, fair warning - there's graphic, over the top violence and gunplay. They're unapologetically ride-or-die and on a mission. There are also cookies.

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

Sherlock Holmes and the Explorers' Club (The Early Casebook of Sherlock Holmes 2)

Sherlock Holmes and the Explorers' Club is the second Early Sherlock Holmes historical mystery by Linda Stratmann. Released 12th Jan 2022, it's 239 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

This is a well written and succinct mystery true to its roots. The clues are laid out tantalizingly and (as always) woven together into a whole cloth by young Mr. Holmes. The details are just as outlandish as we could wish, the apparent accidental death of a young man with seven toes his foot leads Holmes to secret society and more "accidental" deaths. 

I recommend it to fans of the canon who are yearning for more Holmes and Watson adventures. Stratmann is a capable writer with a sure voice who captures the period very well. In the uncorrected proof provided for review, there were a few grammatical and typesetting errors. These have presumably been corrected in the release version. That being said, they weren't egregious even in the pre-release copy.

Four stars. Well done and entertaining.

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

Mystery at Magpie Lodge (Eve Mallow Mystery #7)

 

Mystery at Magpie Lodge is the 7th Eve Mallow village cozy mystery by Clare Chase. Released 6th Jan 2022, it's 296 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 (along with the rest of the series) to borrow and read for free.

This is a satisfying addition to this very well written series. The characters are distinct and well rendered and the dialogue generally flows unhindered. There's maybe a trifle too much emphasis on hearsay and gossip (and many of the central characters are middle aged and female and a trifle trope-y), but it's not egregious and I didn't find myself being irritated over it whilst reading. Main protagonist Eve's love/hate relationship with the local constabulary, and her secret relationship with a former detective who is lying low in the district for his own protection after a high profile case in London, add some interest and conflict.

There were several seemingly disparate plot threads which intertwined into a satisfying denouement and resolution. Despite being the seventh book in the series, it worked well enough as a standalone, though there are some minor spoilers for earlier books if read out of order. With 9 books extant currently, this would be a good choice for readers who enjoy binge-reading series. I've enjoyed all of them and look forward to more.

Four strong stars. This is definitely one for British village cozy readers. Very well written and constructed. Clean language and mostly off-page violence. 

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

 

Gloppy

Gloppy is an engaging and well written slice-of-life chapter novel for middle grade readers by Janice Laakko. Released in August 2021, it's 170 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a compassionate and gently written book with appealingly realistic characters. The kids the author writes about are believable and real, with honest problems (sometimes of their own making) and real frustrations and stresses. The plot is meandering, it's not linear at all, but it's full of the sort of conflicts, crises, and stresses which 11 year olds everywhere can relate to. There are good discussions about friendship, conflict resolution, cooperation, and competition included here.

The subject matter is age appropriate and handled with care and honesty by the author. It would make a great choice for public or school library acquisition, as well as home reading. It would also be fine for a book club discussion or buddy-read. The author has included discussion questions and topics on her website.

Four and a half stars. 

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

Wild Prey (Inspector Lu Fei Mysteries #2)

Wild Prey is the second Inspector Lu Fei mystery/thriller by Brian Klingborg. Released 17th May 2022 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a very well written, tautly plotted mystery set in Asia post-covid. The protagonist is wonderfully rendered. He's a morally uncomplicated police inspector, sent to a less desirable posting in a rural area, despite being intelligent, driven, and exceedingly honest. In fact, his utter incorruptibility is a large part of *why* he finds himself policing in a backwater town in China. 

This time, a missing persons case gets him drawn into a huge undercover assignment, trying to break up an international smuggling ring dealing in the trade of wild endangered animal products on the black market. I loved the pacing and action driven plot. The writing is superb and the author manages to make the culture and customs accessible at the same time accentuating the challenges of modern conservation in a system with literally thousands of years of support and acceptance of traditional herbal medicine. 

The dialogue is peppered with transliterated Chinese phrases which the author does a good job of translating in context. It added verisimilitude without being overly intrusive. There is a pleasantly surprising amount of warm humor in the writing as well, and the dialogue surprised a few chuckles out of me (in a good way). 

Four and a half stars. This is top shelf fiction. Although the plot, resolution, and denouement are self contained in this volume, I heartily recommend the first book in the series as well. They would make a great weekend mini-binge read. I heartily wish and hope for further books in the series. 

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

The Complete Book of Pasta Sauces: The Best Italian Pestos, Marinaras, Ragùs, and Other Cooked and Fresh Sauces for Every Type of Pasta Imaginable

The Complete Book of Pasta Sauces is a theme-specific collection of recipes for a wide variety of sauces written and developed by Allan Bay. Due out 18th Oct 2022 from Quarto on their Harvard Common Press imprint, it's 256 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats. 

This is an unusual collection. The recipes included are _only_ for the sauces/wet components of the meals and not complete dishes. There are suggestions for each recipe such as accompaniments (best on ____, goes well with ____) but no complementary info, no menu information, no background, and not many alternative presentations. 

Recipes are arranged thematically: vegetable sauces, pesto, tomato sauces, cheese & egg sauces, ragu, fish & seafood sauces, hearty meat sauces, and the basics. Ingredients are written with a title, very little introductory/background info, ingredients in a bullet list sidebar, and followed by *very* short cooking directions. Ingredient measurements are given in imperial (American) measurements, followed by metric in parentheses (yay!). 

About 20% of the recipes are accompanied by one or more stock photos of relevant foodstuffs (nuts, fish, vegetables, etc). The recipes collected here are not accompanied by finished/serving photos of the dishes. The author has included a cross referenced index which includes recipes listed by main ingredient, which I found very helpful.

This would be a good choice for cookbook reference collectors, since it is a fairly comprehensive collection of sauces. It would be a less optimal choice for beginning cooks, as there are no photos and prep/full meal instructions are scanty at best. That being said, this is a solid kitchen reference and cooks who love to experiment with presentations and menus will find a lot to love here.

Three and a half stars. 

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

A Royal Murder (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery #9)

 

 

A Royal Murder is the 9th Lady Eleanor Swift cozy mystery by pseudonymous writing duo Verity Bright. Released 28th Feb 2022, it's 290 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 (and the rest of the series) are currently included in the KU library to borrow and read for free.

This is such a fun historical cozy series, set in the roaring 20s and featuring amateur society sleuth Lady Eleanor, her faithful manservant Clifford, and elderly (only slightly smelly) bulldog Gladstone. This time sees an untimely death at the royal regatta, lots of murky goings-on, some international espionage, and high (and low) society. The plotting is well rendered and moves along at a good clip. The dialogue is entertaining (if not really period accurate) and the characters are well written and witty.  

It's a fast and undemanding read; the language is clean, the crimes are not written violently or explicitly and the denouement is satisfying and well written. For readers looking for verisimilitude in dialogue and action, be warned, this series is full of modern vernacular and sensibilities. Eleanor fraternizes with the servants and runs a shockingly lax estate. However, fans of classic golden age interwar British mysteries will find a lot to appeal here.

Four stars, a decidedly exuberant and whimsical romp. There are now 12 books in the series. This is a prime candidate for a long weekend binge read. Although each of the books is self contained, I recommend reading them in order (though it's not absolutely necessary).

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

 

The Murder Dance (Phineas Fox #6)

The Murder Dance is the 6th Phineas Fox mystery by Sarah Rayne. Released 4th Jan 2022 by Severn House, it's 256 pages (in print edition), 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.

This is such a creepy and atmospheric history/mystery with overtones of Gothic horror and a slight Shirley Jackson vibe. Although it's the 6th book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone, with the codicil that the ongoing characters' development in this installment will spoil some earlier interactions in some ways. 

Told through parallel timelines, it's a convoluted and oddly constructed story with taints of madness, creepy settings, a malevolent half ruined manor house, and elements of horror. Fans of the author's oeuvre will find much to appeal here. 

Four stars.

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

Proper Scoundrels (Roaring Twenties Magic #1)

Proper Scoundrels is the first book in a spinoff mystery/paranormal romance series by Allie Therin. Released 28th Dec 2021 by Harlequin on their Carina Press imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a very well written, spicy, M/M historical paranormal romance set in the 1920s. The setup is admittedly a trifle trope-y: curmudgeonly (but secretly passionate and soft on the inside) "perpetual bachelor" aristocrat meets/pines for handsome dangerous, sad, and complex magic user. Add some really nasty villains and stir well. 

This is a spinoff series, and there are loads of world building and background to be read through before the action really gets going. It's roughly 25% into the book before the main characters (Sebastian and Wesley) meet properly. For that reason, a short binge of the original series (Magic in Manhattan) might make this series more enjoyable.

It's a romance, and readers should be aware that there are some explicit scenes in the book. They're well written, but probably NSFW. Readers who enjoy historical romance with M/M characters will find a lot to like here.

Four stars.

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

A Mumbai Murder Mystery

A Mumbai Murder Mystery is an engaging and very well written crime mystery and the first book in the Temple Hill series by Meeti Shroff-Shah. Released 9th Dec 2021 by Joffe Books, it's 284 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. 

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. The protagonist is likable and real, despite her very privileged upbringing. Coming back home to India (and her gossipy and unsympathetic family friends and acquaintances after personal upheaval) is a huge and unwanted change which she navigates with humor and a little face-saving mistruth here and there.

There is a warmth and humor in the writing which appealed to me and the clever plotting and mystery reminded me in some ways of Richard Osman, although it's not at all derivative. The author is quite adept at descriptive prose and the food, clothing, and settings are written superbly.

Four stars. I'm definitely engaged in the series and looking forward to finding out what comes next. 

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

Indian for Everyone: 100 Easy, Healthy Dishes the Whole Family Will Love

Indian for Everyone is a collection of healthy Indian inspired dishes collected and developed by Hari Ghotra. Released 4th Oct 2022 by Quarto on their Fair Winds Press imprint, it's 176 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. 

The introduction contains some basic info about tools, supplies, ingredients, and tips for serving/entertaining. The following chapters contain the recipes, arranged thematically:  drinks & snacks, finger foods, sharing platters, family dinners, curries, sides, condiments, and desserts.

Ingredient measurements are supplied in imperial (American) measurements, with metric/SI measures in parentheses (yay!).  Nutritional information is not included.  Extra tips or recipe alternatives are listed in sidebars with the recipes. The recipes themselves are fairly straightforward and are mostly made with easily sourced ingredients. The author has included a handy cross referenced index which includes ingredients indexed with their recipes.

The photography is clear but not overly abundant; roughly 20% of the recipes are accompanied by one or more illustrations. The serving suggestions are attractive and appropriate. 

This is a nice basic collection of recipes and will keep Indian cooking fans going for a long time. Many of these are simple "everyday" recipes which are anything but boring. We tried several dishes and all of them were tasty and well written, without discernible errors. Whilst most of the ingredients will be found at any well stocked grocery store, some spices and vegetables will be more easily sourced at a specialist/international food store.  

Well written book, tasty recipes.

Four stars. This is a solid recipe book and will be used. It would make a superlative housewarming gift to a friend or family member - college student, new graduate, newlyweds, kids flying the nest, or anyone who loves Indian food. 

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