A Midsummer Night's Scheme - Bookbinding Mystery #2

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

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

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

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

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

Six Sweets Under - True Confections Mystery #1

Six Sweets Under is the first book in a new shopfront cozy by Sarah Fox. Released 7th Feb 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

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

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

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

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

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

Amigurumi for Beginners

 

Amigurumi for Beginners is a tutorial instruction guide with patterns for 20 amigurumi animals written by Julia Simpson. Released 1st Nov. 2022 by Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 210 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The book is logically laid out and accessible. The graphics are appealing and clear. The book is lavishly illustrated and I really appreciate the closeness and detail of the photography. The book has a short introduction including the history of amigurumi along with a short pep talk about why the author started crocheting soft toys.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nine Lives - Cat Caliban #9

 

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

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

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

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

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

A Wealth of Deception - Scandal Mountain Antiques #2

 

A Wealth of Deception is the second Scandal Mountain Antiques shopfront cozy mystery by Trish Esden. Released 18th April 2023 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Badge of Edisto

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Socialite's Guide to Murder is the first Pinnacle Hotel murder mystery by S.K. Golden. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in late second quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

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

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

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

Three and a half stars. Escapist comfort reading.

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

The Biscuit Barrel Murder

The Biscuit Barrel Murder is a jolly cosy mystery and ripping amateur sleuth adventure set in the early interwar golden age by debut author Geoffrey Start. Released 24th Jan 2023 by The Book Guild, it's 293 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

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

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

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

Four and a half stars. Delightful fun.

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

The Curious Life of Ada Baker

The Curious Life of Ada Baker is a paranormal cozy mystery by Karen Hamilton-Viall. Released 27th Sept 2022 by Cranthorpe Millner, it's 324 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. 

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

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

Three and a half stars. Definite potential. 

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

The Scarlet Circus

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

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

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

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

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

Five stars. Just gorgeous.

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

A Courage Undimmed - Olive Bright Mystery #3

A Courage Undimmed is the third Olive Bright historical WW2 spy mystery by Stephanie Graves. Released 24th Jan 2023 by Kensington Books, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 4th quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.

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

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

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

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

Flight Risk - The Booking Agents #2

Flight Risk is the second Booking Agent paranormal cozy by Cherie Priest. Released 15th Nov 2022 by Simon & Schuster on their Atria imprint, it's 320 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out third quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats, it makes it so easy to find info with the search function.

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

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

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

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

The Poison Machine - Hunt & Hooke #2

 

 

The Poison Machine is the second Hunt & Hooke historical mystery by Robert J. Lloyd. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Melville House, it's 464 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out in 3rd quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is an exceptionally well written and researched thriller/mystery set in the latter part of the 17th century in and around London. The descriptions and dialogue are precisely rendered and believable. The story follows primarily Harry Hunt, renowned scientist Robert Hooke's assistant, sent to investigate a body found in Norfolk. 

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

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

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

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

 

A Trip with Trouble - Mountain Lodge Mystery #2

A Trip with Trouble is the second Mountain Lodge hotel cozy mystery by Diane Kelly. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 304 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Four stars. Light entertainment. 

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

Perils of a Pregnant Sleuth

 

Perils of a Pregnant Sleuth is the second southern cozy(ish) mystery featuring biology-professor-on-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave Callahan Banks written by Dershie McDevitt. Released 22nd Sept 2022, it's 280 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a well written murder mystery series set in coastal North Carolina. The titular pregnant protagonist is on leave from a tenure-track position in the biology department at UNC, spending time where she grew up, having returned to Timicau Island to settle the estate of her late mother. The plot is mostly character driven and the author has a solid grasp of characterization and setting. Callahan does have a propensity for emotional indecision, but it rings true given the circumstances; being pressured to marry due to her pregnancy in the face of her natural tendency to independence and unwillingness to tie herself to the father of her baby just because she's pregnant. 

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

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

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

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

Dressed to Drill - Fixer-Upper Mystery #10

Dressed to Drill is the 10th Fixer-Upper cozy mystery by Kate Carlisle. Due out 2nd May 2022 from Penguin Random House on their Berkley imprint, it's 332 pages and is available in mass market paperback and ebook formats. Regular paperback format due out in third quarter 2023 from the same publisher. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a fun and easy-to-read cozy with well established three dimensional characters and an ensemble cast. Despite being the 10th book in the series, it works fine as a standalone. Readers who read the books out of order won't be lost or confused though; the author manages to fill in the backstory and character developments without spoon-feeding or info dumping. She has a breezy and engaging style of writing and the action driven plot doesn't slow down much from start to finish.

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

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

Four stars. Well written and engaging.

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

Dragonboy - Heroes of Havensong #1

Dragonboy is the first book in a new middle grade epic adventure fantasy series by Megan Reyes. Released 24th Jan 2023 by Random House on their Children's imprint, it's 416 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out 3rd quarter 2023 from the same publisher.  It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is a beautifully written and engaging fantasy for middle grade readers (Lexile 690L). The young protagonists have to learn to work together to overcome prejudice and challenges to save their way of life and their world. The plot is quite complex for a middle grade book and the first third of the book, developing the world, magic, and characters, seemed to take a long time (for a kids' book). 

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

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

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

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

 

Mrs Hudson and The Christmas Canary is the sixth book in the cozy English mystery series by Martin Davies. Released 10th Nov 2022 by Canelo, it's 310 pages and is available in ebook format. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. 

This is on the surface a nice tie-in series starring the redoubtable Mrs. Hudson (of 221B Baker St. fame), and featuring lots of nice Holmes and Watson cameos. As always, this installment also features Mrs. Hudson's assistant Flotsam who has blossomed into a capable, honourable, intelligent, and fearless protagonist in her own right.

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

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

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

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

A Doomful of Sugar - Maple Syrup Mysteries #1

A Doomful of Sugar is the first Maple Syrup cozy mystery by Catherine Bruns. Released 25th Oct 2022 by Sourcebooks on their Poisoned Pen Press imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in mass market paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

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

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

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

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

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