What could be better than sitting down with a new Marie Benedict novel? I have read nearly all of her books and admire her wide ranging subjects and the ways in which she brings the past to life. That is certainly true in this new novel.

This is a dual timeline story, something that is popular in historical fiction. What makes this one unique is that it is about Hatshepsut in ancient Egypt. Some readers may indeed know her name but they will get to go so much deeper as they read this novel. Truly the parts of the book about her and life in her time were very interesting.

I also enjoyed spending time with Evelyn (Eve) Herbert in the story that took place in the 1900s. It was fun to experience Highclere Castle (of later Downton Abby) fame and to spend time with Eve’s family and, of course, Howard Carter (he of the momentous discoveries). Of course, being on a dig was fascinating too.

Readers will see that Hatshepsut and Eve were both women of their time and women who wanted more than traditional roles. Readers will not forget either of them.

This is a novel that will be welcomed by fans of historical fiction, women’s fiction and the author. I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 24 March 2026

Post first published on 18 January 2026

Description:

from the publisher

Known for her “delightful blend of historical fiction and suspense” (People), New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict, returns with a sweeping tale of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten Pharaoh—rewriting both of their legacies forever.

In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary—and nearly erased from history.

When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about her reign and keep valued artifacts in Egypt, their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy—or forge her own.

Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, Daughter of Egypt is the story of two ambitious women who lived centuries apart. Both were forced to hide who they were during their lifetimes, yet ultimately changed history forever.

From the Publisher:

“Immersive … Benedict evokes the excitement of archaeology in colonial Egypt with an abundance of lush details. There’s plenty to enjoy in this story of two women defying expectations.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Benedict’s flair for bringing the past to life draws in readers, providing not only lessons in history but an engrossing and entertaining tale. The complex issues of exploration and the collection of antiquities add resonance to the story.” ―Library Journal

Note:

There are a number of reviews of other Benedict books on my site. They have all offered good reads. Are you a fan?

Also, some may want to look for Gill Paul’s novel, The Collector’s Daughter, which also features Evelyn Herbert. See review on my blog.

Cut to the chase…there is a rumor that Maria Capello cooked her husband in one of her recipes. Pretty gruesome, but did she? If you wonder, this may be the book for you.

Maria’s husband was a talented chef. His belongings were found along with a note, indicating the possibility of suicide. Did he kill himself, did Maria (as noted above) or did something else entirely happen? Turn the pages to find out.

Protagonist Thea had an absent mother and a father who came in and out of her life randomly. For a sense of security, Thea always watched Maria Capello’s cooking show. It offered comfort, taught her recipes, and even fostered an introduction to her husband.

Thea was on the verge of losing her job but, for some reason, Maria wants her to edit her new book. It is all very top secret. Thea does not know why she was chosen. Will she have been right to accept the job? It leads to her isolation on an estate.

In addition to the main story line, I liked how the author showed Thea’s home life with its daily relationship and parenting frustrations. I also liked how she made a Brooklyn neighborhood come to life.

All in all, worth a look for those who can take some horror. Not so sure for myself. Be aware that it becomes creepy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 August 2025

From the Publisher

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsJuly 22, 2019

This is a wonderful historical novel based upon the Book Women who delivered library materials to those in the out of the way sections of Kentucky.  The book women were part of a program started by President Roosevelt under the WPA.

There are many book women in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky but the protagonist of the novel is the unforgettable Cussy.  Cussy speaks in dialect which helps the reader to fully enter into her world.  Cussy faces special challenges because she is the last of the ‘blues.’  There really were blue-skinned people in America as a supplement at the back of the novel attests.  They were objects of curiosity and also of prejudice, just as was the case for the African American population.

Cussy wants to be independent both before and after her disastrous short term marriage.  And yet, what will happen with patron Jackson who is one of the few to call Cussy by name, rather than the derogatory Bluet?

Cussy’s love of books flows through the novel.  There are references to books that were popular at the time, including those by Steinbeck and Rex Stout.  Cussy’s inventiveness in making books and delivering what her patrons need is impressive.

The landscape of rural Kentucky, the small towns, the mines, the mountains are all well described.  Each patron that Cussy visits has a back story and readers will even come to learn more about the mule who transports her.

If you are a reader who enjoys historical fiction set in the U.S., consider this one.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks, for this book in exchange for an honest review.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/books/what-to-read-next.html

#ACaseofLifeandLimb #NetGalley

Readers who got to meet Gabriel Ward in the first book in the series (A Case of Mice and Murder) will be absolutely delighted to spend time with him in this second novel in a proposed trilogy. (I wish it could be more, Ms. Smith). Those who have not read the first book can read this one first but I am pretty sure that they will then go back to read the other title.

There is a lot of plot in this book. I will not give it all away so that readers can enjoy the circumlocutions of the story as they read. There is a case involving Topsy Tillotson who is a music hall star. There are a series of upsetting packages and their accompanying notes. There are murders. Certainly, all this enough is to keep the pages turning in this traditional, historical mystery.

There were many things that I loved in the book including the time spent in the law courts and environs. It is a self contained world with chambers, living spaces, refectories, chapels and, watch out for the cat. I found that the characters were very interesting and idiosyncratic.

Ward himself is very precise and ordered. He is a man who does not easily left others in. He grows a bit and does value some of his connections over the courseof the story.

The book is cleverly plotted and includes an interesting dilemma for two of the male characters. One of them is in the law court while the other is a cleric. No more to say as readers should have the experience of discovery.

Smith writes with the authenticity of knowing her setting and the law courts intimately. She has also researched the history of the time in which the story is set.

I most highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 18 November 2025

First posted on 17 January 2026

Description:

from the publisher

AN ELLE BEST MYSTERY OF THE YEAR

“I was immediately besotted . . . Brilliant.” -Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author of The Appeal

All is calm, all is bright . . . until reluctant sleuth barrister Gabriel Ward is tasked with finding the culprit of yet another grisly crime in the Inner Temple.

Christmas Eve, 1901. Gabriel Ward KC is hard at work on a thorny libel case involving London’s most famous music hall star, Topsy Tillotson, and its most notorious tabloid newspaper, the Nation’s Voice, but the Inner Temple remains as quiet and calm as ever. Quiet, that is, until a severed hand arrives in the post.

While the hand’s recipient, Temple Treasurer Sir William Waring, is rightfully shaken, Gabriel is filled with curiosity. Who would want to send such a thing? And why? But as more parcels arrive-one with fatal consequences-Gabriel realizes that it is not Sir William who is the target, but the Temple itself.

Someone is holding a grudge that has already led to at least one death. Now it’s up to Gabriel, and Constable Wright of the City of London Police, to find out who, before an old death leads to a new murder.

From the Publisher:

About the Author:

Sally Smith spent all her working life as a barrister and later King’s Counsel in the Inner Temple. After writing a biography of the famous Edwardian barrister, Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC, she retired from the bar to write full time. A Case of Mice and Murder, her first novel, was inspired by the historic surroundings of the Inner Temple in which she still lives and works and by the rich history contained in the Inner Temple archives. A Case of Mice and Murder is the first in a series starring the reluctant sleuth Sir Gabriel Ward KC

Review:

“Ms. Smith (herself a barrister and Inner Temple resident) nicely balances scenes of legal and detective work, peppering the narrative with details about her characters’ personal lives and back stories. Gabriel grows as an attorney and human being by embracing the empathy he feels for his clients and other citizens. With its lawyerly shenanigans and emotional poignancy, A Case of Life and Limb is a real corker, as a policeman who sometimes counsels Gabriel might say.” ―The Wall Street Journal

AN ELLE BEST MYSTERY OF THE YEAR

“I was immediately besotted . . . Brilliant.” -Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author of The Appeal

The first book:

A Case of Mice and Murder by sally Smith

Many Agatha Christie novels are e book bargains today!

#StorybookEnding #NetGalley

I am always drawn to novels that are about books so was quite interested in reading this author’s debut work. The main setting is a bookstore in the Pacific Northwest.

There are many characters in these pages. That said, there are three principals. Westley (named for a character in The Princess Bride) is a (very) handsome, yet somewhat self-effacing man. April works for a real estate company called Picket Fences; her job is virtual and she misses more regular human contact. The third main character is Laura. She was widowed young, has a six year old daughter and is a personal shopper. I enjoyed reading about her work.

One day, April decides to be more decisive. She brings in some used books (with a note in the Anhtony Horowitz title) to the store where Westley works in that department. April knows that he looks inside the titles to remove loose papers before shelving them. April, therefore, hopes that Westley will read her note and they will begin a bookish correspondence that could, eventually, lead to a relationship. However, Westley does not see the note, the book is picked up by Laura who reads it. This means that April and Laura begin communicating with one another when they each think that they are writing to Westley. How will this resolve? Readers wait a while in this somewhat slowly paced book to find out.

The author knows her books and there are many good titles scattered throughout these pages. Macdonald also does a lovely job describing the bookstore and the cafe that is there. She also introduces a wide variety of other characters including a movie crew that wants to film in the store.

Storybook Ending was an enjoyable read for me although, I think that it could perhaps have been edited a bit. Also note that the author’s style includes a lot of parenthetical asides.

Kirkus Reviews states that this is “A perfectly charming read for devotees of the written word and anyone who’s ever hoped to find love in a bookstore.” So true.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group-Dutton for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 27 May 2025

Post first published on 16 January 2026

Description

A charming story about friendship, community, and the magic that happens in bookstores—when an anonymous note left in a book finds the wrong recipient.

April, a smart and lonely tech worker, worries work from home has gotten out of hand: She’s left an anonymous note in a book for Westley, the clerk at her Seattle neighborhood bookstore who has a gentle smile and looks great in flannel. But thanks to fate, Laura—a busy single mom who had given up on love—buys the book, finds the note, and thinks Westley has left it for her. A handsome man who loves books seems like just the plot twist she has been looking for.

Meanwhile, Westley—not the most perceptive—is too distracted by the movie filming at the store and the ambition it’s unlocked in him to notice either of the two women. But as April and Laura’s anonymous correspondence continues back and forth, their mundane routines are challenged, sparking a glimmer of hope. Is a happy ending in the cards for them?

A heartwarming web of mistaken identities and serendipitous encounters, Storybook Ending is a playful tribute to friendship, love stories of all kinds, and to the objects—from a forgotten slip of paper to someone’s heart—left between the pages of books we loved.

From the Publisher:

The cover:

I found the cover of this book to be so inviting that I couldn’t wait to see what was inside.

What it’s about:

Between the two beautiful towns in a stunning mountainous area of Japan rattles the Hankyu Line train. Climb aboard, where THE PASSENGERS ON THE HANKYU LINE takes readers on a journey alongside the unlikeliest but surprisingly relatable group of passengers. Among them is a pair who find themselves in a one-sided rivalry, a melancholy woman dressed in white, a love-smitten student, a toxic couple, two lonely university students, and an old lady traveling with her granddaughter, who insists that they adopt a dog (preferably a dachshund.)

Already a bestseller and beloved classic in Japan, THE PASSENGERS ON THE HANKYU LINE features the authentic and warm storytelling Arikawa is known for and will leave readers feeling that even in the most mundane circumstances, situations, and locations, there is magic in life that’s worth living. 

Perfect for readers of Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi and We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida.

The book is by the author of The Travelling Cat Chronicles

My thoughts:

Readers will want to meet the eleven passengers who are traveling on this train. Each has a story and perhaps a decision to make. Will they help one another? Will they help themselves? Find out on two of their commutes.

I have not yet read this title but plan to start it now. I have been saving it to savor.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this title.

From the publisher:

ALSO, if you’d like, we’ve made a fun “find out where the Hankyu Line and its passengers are taking you today!” quiz. Check it out here:  https://x5h4gde8rss.typeform.com/to/uOkif04k

Editorial Review:

From Kirkus Reviews:

A gentle intertwining of small vignettes that evoke smiles in the characters—and the reader.

Pub Date: 03 June 2025

ISBN: 9798217187188

Page Count: 256

Publisher: Berkley

From page-turning thrillers to tales of espionage, find your perfect crime in these mystery novels that will hit shelves soon!
— Read on www.penguinrandomhouse.com/the-read-down/mystery-coming-soon

#ElizabethBarrettBrowning #NetGalley

Whether or not a reader is already aware of EBB’s poetry, here is a book to savor. There are more than 100 poems by her in these pages-a good reminder that she wrote so much more than the very well known “How Do I Love Thee?”

Following the introduction, this title is organized by topics, each of which has its own introduction. These sections include Love; Death and Spirituality; Social Justice; and, Women’s Rights and Feminism. Some of the many poems is followed by a critique for readers who want a deeper understanding of the work.

Here is a book that brings EBB’s poetry to life for readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Gemini Books Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 17 February 2026

Post first published on 15 January 2026

Description:

A curated collection of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetry that explores the personal, political and intellectual depth of this pivotal Victorian poet.

From the intense affection of ‘How Do I Love Thee?’ to the powerful social protest in ‘The Cry of the Children’, the lyrical beauty of Barrett Browning’s poetry continues to fascinate modern readers.

In this evocative introduction to Barrett Browning’s work, over 100 poems are organised into thematic sections, allowing the reader to gain a deeper understanding of her perspectives on life, liberty and love.

Perfect for fans of feminist literature and poetry, this collection celebrates the pioneering legacy of Barrett Browning as a talented poet, social reformer and independent woman.