Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

Susan Mallery is a writer that readers of women’s fiction come back to each time a new novel of hers is published. Mallery has a knack for writing stories with characters with whom readers can identify, and relationships that have their ups and downs. Relationships in this new book include those among new and old men for Jax and Ryleigh, the sisters’ own relationship, friendships, those with one’s children and those at the work place. Oh, and don’t forget, Ramon! (I did a little research because I wasn’t sure but, yes, parrots can have some meaningful conversations) So, as can be seen, this title has a broad canvas.

One of the main settings for this story is a bookstore. I always enjoy a book with books. In this bookstore, there is an added twist. There is a wall where people keep diaries. What will happen when, due to renovations, things get mixed up? Find out as you read this one.

This book offered a good escapist read for me. Those who enjoy women’s fiction should take a look.

A note-while I read this as an e-galley, I saw this title in the bookstore and it is very, very pretty.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 03 March 2026

Post first published on 11 March 2026

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description:

from the publisher

This summer, the town’s juiciest secrets are revealed in New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery’s joyful and sparkling new novel

Jax has a slight issue with control—as in, she needs it. Always. Too bad she has power only over the Painted Lady Bookstore, the Victorian mansion turned bookshop she inherited. No one else listens to a word she says. Her ex gets engaged for questionable reasons. Her beloved sister, Ryleigh, wants to move away to find a husband. And the handsome contractor Jax has chosen to convince Ryleigh to stay is only interested in Jax. 

Still, she’s living the bookworm dream—until an unhappy accident erases the names from the bookshop lockboxes where the town keeps their diaries. Which means the only way to find a diary’s owner is…to read it. 

As secrets spill and scandals surface, life at the Painted Lady Bookstore gets a lot more colorful and chaotic. But for a woman who’s always had to take charge, Jax will see that losing control—especially with the right wrong guy—can set you free.

Don’t miss these other great reads from Susan Mallery: 

• Otherwise Engaged 
• Beach Vibes 
• The Boardwalk Bookshop 
• Once Upon a Holidate 
• One Big Happy Family 

From the Publisher:

Professional Reviews

Library Journal

January 1, 2026

Mallery (Otherwise Engaged) delivers her signature warmth and humor in this engaging tale. Jax owns a cozy bookstore in a small California town. Divorced and coparenting two children with her ex, Jax navigates life with the help of her sister Ryleigh and her precocious African Gray parrot Ramon. Ryleigh wants to marry but fears their small town is devoid of any romantic prospects. Her best friend, a widower with a young son, lends her support as she navigates her best path forward. When the shop needs major renovations, Jax hires a charming young contractor and immediately tries to match him with Ryleigh—only to learn he’s interested in her. Meanwhile, a worker cleans a section of an old brick wall, unaware that the wall conceals secret diaries that townspeople had hidden there. Chaos ensues as customers search for their lost journals. Through unexpected discoveries, heartfelt connections, and a touch of romance, both sisters discover that love can find them when they least expect it. VERDICT Mallery fans and new readers alike will relish this charming read with plenty of fodder for discussion. The book will also appeal to Robin Carr or Brenda Novak fans.—Stacy Alesi

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. (read less)

There are reviews of other Susan Mallery titles on my blog.

#TheCloakandDaggerClub #NetGalley

Historical fiction-Mystery & Thriller-Romance

368 pages

Pub date: 14 July 2026

Four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Description:

from the publisher

Inspired by Agatha Christie’s real-life Detection Club, a murder among a group of golden age mystery writers meets a second chance romance in this debut novel from author Jackie McMahon.

London, 1930. Lucy Hubbard is on the cusp of achieving her dreams. With her first mystery novel debuting with strong sales and glowing reviews, she’s been invited by Horace Hazelmoor, the king of crime fiction, to join his elite group of writers—the Cloak and Dagger Club.

Thrilled at the opportunity, Lucy finds herself swept up into Horace’s glamorous world at the Ritz hotel. She’s even willing to put up with the inconvenient presence of her former fiancé, Frank Murray, the club’s rising star who is on track to eclipse Horace as Britain’s most popular crime writer.

But when Horace is found with a knife in his back, Frank is the police’s prime suspect. Despite their complicated history, Lucy knows he’s not capable of murder. With suspects galore and the danger rising, these two mystery writers must race to solve the crime—and fight their lingering feelings for each other—before the murderer strikes again.

My thoughts:

Those who enjoy traditional mysteries and/or those who love stories set in the Golden Age of Mystery fiction will, I think, enjoy this debut novel.

The time period is nicely brought to life as readers get to know the members of a club for mystery writers and its organizer. Said organizer, Harold, is not the nicest and manipulates people. Is this one reason that Horace invited new author Lucy to the club? Was he looking to get a reaction from Frank since the two have a history?

Lucy, Frank and the other society members including an Asian writer, a Countess, an American and a former police inspector will be faced with the aftermath of a murder. How will each of them cope?

Will Lucy and Frank solve the case? Whodunnit? What will happen in their relationship by the end of the story? Read this one to find out.

Most readers will hope that this title is the start of a series and will wait (im)patiently for the next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Editorial Reviews:

From Kirkus Reviews

A wonderfully tricky golden age–style mystery whose clever sleuths are faced with countless motives for murder.

From Publishers Weekly

A charming debut.

Fans of golden age mysteries will be satisfied.

A Novel

by Amy Neff

#TheDaysILovedYouMost #NetGalley

Take a deep breath as you begin this title. The story opens with a husband and wife telling their adult children that they plan to end their lives in exactly one year. They have their reasons although Jane, Violet and Thomas are in no way accepting when they hear this. The novel takes off from there.

In these pages readers get to know Joseph and Evelyn over the course of their lives, beginning when they were kids. They move together through the significant events in their lives, their children’s lives and those around them.

The story is told by different characters and in different time lines. This allows readers to experience past events as they were happening.

Will Evelyn and Joseph move ahead with their plans? Read this emotional title, get to know the characters, see what they decide and see what you think.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 30 July 2024

From the Publisher

This novel is a richly imagined, evocative and detailed portrait of life in England, Europe and the U.S. in the years surrounding WW II.  The book focuses on the Kennedys and their circle.

Readers will spend time with staunchly Catholic parents, Joe and Rose, who have many aspirations for their children.  Joe Jr. and JFK are portrayed as they fall in love and commit to service in the war.  Rosemary and her emotional struggles are described and the younger Kennedy children also have a place.  The book though is most especially the story of Kathleen (Kick) Kennedy and her friends, colleague, romances and search for meaning.

Kick falls in love with England where she strives to find a worthwhile life while also enjoying a busy social life with her friends, including Deborah Mitford and her circle.  Kick is always aware of what is expected of her as a Kennedy but struggles with this.

Nowadays when marriages are not universally expected to take place between people who are the same (the same race, religion, socioeconomic status, etc.), it is hard to recall that this was not always the case.  However, when Kathleen (Kick) Kennedy, of Irish background and Catholic, falls in love with Billy, an aristocratic British, Protestant, her parents clearly do not approve.  How Kick chooses to live her life forms the core of the novel.  I do not want to put in any spoilers so will stop here.

I found The Kennedy Debutante to be an excellent historical novel.  I hope that you will too!

Critical Praise for the book:
“You will be swept up, first and foremost, by its vivid, captivating heroine. Kick Kennedy was naive and privileged, to be sure, but in Maher’s masterful portrait, she is also a bold young woman living at a precarious moment in history, eager to make her mark on the world as fearlessly as she will follow her heart.”—Julia Glass, Author of A House Among the Trees and the National Book Award–winning Three Junes

“Maher’s assured debut, set against the backdrop of World War II, explores the life of JFK’s younger sister Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy…This immersive, rich portrait of a complex young woman from one of the world’s most famous families will hold readers in thrall.”—Publishers Weekly

Peter James has written many Roy Grace thrillers. I am among, what I suspect, are the very few not to have read them. I made up for this with The Hawk is Dead, a title that I thoroughly enjoyed. I trust that I will make my way to the author’s backlist post haste.

There was much that I loved in this novel that is based on a killing that took place after a train on which Queen Camilla was traveling was derailed. Who was the intended victim? Whodunnit? Why? Find out while enjoying this lengthy (over 500 pages) title.

The plot was involving, the characters (including the Royals) well drawn, the settings vivid and the detection involving. So much to like here.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this title. All opinions are my own.

About the Author (from the Amazon website)

PETER JAMES is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author best known for his crime thrillers featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, who Queen Camilla recently named as her favourite fictional detective. Praised by critics and much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern-day policing, he has won more than 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger.

His books have sold over 23 million copies worldwide, achieved 21 Sunday Times No 1s, and have been translated into 38 languages. His Roy Grace novels are currently filming their 6th season for the hit ITV drama, Grace, starring John Simm as the troubled Brighton copper and available to view on ITVX and on Britbox.

Seven of his novels have been adapted into hit stage plays, with his most recent, Picture You Dead, now on national tour in the UK. His plays have have been named as “The most successful stage franchise since Agatha Christie.

---

From the Publisher

The Dearly Beloved is the first novel by Cara Wall; I am pretty certain that it will not be her last. It is the story of Charles, Lily, James and Nan. Each is an adult with a unique upbringing. Charles has faced many parental expectations; Lily has suffered much loss; James had a hardscrabble background, while life seemed sweet for Nan. While in college, Charles and Lily meet as do James and Nan.

Both Charles and James are “called” to the church; they have different approaches to God and activism, as demonstrated over the course of the book. Charles and James are appointed as co-ministers of a New York City church on lower Fifth Avenue. Their strengths and weaknesses come to light and are not the same. The reader watches as the two families’ lives unravel and knit over a period of many years.

This book includes discussion about what faith (or lack of it) means to each protagonist. I found these sections enhanced the novel for me.

This is not perhaps a perfect book, just as James, Charles, Nan and Lily are not prefect but it IS mighty good.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e galley in exchange for my honest review.

#Thedearlybeloved #NetGalley

Literary fiction-Sci fi & Fantasy

406 pages

Pub date: 02 June 2026

My thoughts:

This book has gotten a tremendous number of good reviews and I was quite excited to receive an early copy of it from NetGalley and William Morrow. Thanks to both.

Here is a story about the difference between how life might be portrayed and what it is/was really like. It is about the difference for two children between their actual early years and their fictional portrayal in their author mother’s books.

Now as adults, one sibling is publishing a memoir while the other is planning an exhibit. Much will be revealed because of these decisions.

While I wanted to love this book and know that many others have, it was not the right book for me at this moment. It was a little too bleak or dark for me. It is described as Gothic so if that appeals to a reader, they will find much to love here.

All opinions here are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

A READ WITH JENNA TODAY SHOW BOOK CLUB PICK

“An extraordinary book. It’s a page-turner, full of mystery, but that’s the least of it. The language is dusted with magic. The Children reminded me of Ray Bradbury at his best.” —Stephen King

The haunting new novel from New York Times bestselling author Melissa Albert, in which the estranged adult children of a legendary author, written into their dead mother’s beloved fantasy series, must contend with the vine-like creep of legacy, memory, and magic.

Guinevere Sharpe has two childhoods.

In one, she and her brother, Ennis, live in the wooded shadow of their family’s isolated Vermont farmhouse; in the other, the pages of their mother’s world-famous Ninth City books, where their magical adventures have made them household names. In reality, Guinevere’s childhood isn’t the enchanted idyll her mother’s readers imagine: she and Ennis are growing up near-feral, unwashed and underfed, escaping each day to the wild woods they’ve made their playland. As Edith Sharpe’s books explode into epic popularity, the threats of a rural childhood give way to the escalating perils of fame—until the night it all goes up in flames, leaving Edith’s series unfinished and her children the sole survivors.

Now an adult coasting on her mother’s name, Guinevere is mid-promotion for a ghostwritten memoir when her estranged brother, an artist who has until now spurned his family’s legacy, announces an upcoming installation titled, simply, Mother. As rumors swirl around a death connected to his last show, unsettling recollections from Guinevere’s childhood begin to surface. Her public facade starts to crack, forcing her to confront the questions she’s spent the last twenty years running from: What really happened the night of the fire? And what dark history lies behind their mother’s fantasy world?

The Children is wise to the mythic weight childhood memories gather over time, and the way our most beloved stories grow up with us. It’s for anyone who’s ever revisited an old favorite and found its pages cast in a darker light, the line separating magic from reality blurring as we discover the books that once comforted us carry shadows of their own.

Editorial reviews:

Recommended by the New York Times • Los Angeles Times • People • New York Magazine • the Chicago Tribune • Forbes • Cosmopolitan • Oprah Daily • New York Post • Goodreads • Literary Hub • Good Housekeeping • Buzzfeed • Red • Page Six • Book Riot • AARP • Publishers Weekly • The Millions • She Reads . . . and more!

From Kirkus Reviews:

Albert balances traditional storytelling, fairy-tale elements, and inventive narrative structures like museum labels to create a novel way of looking at the places where the past and the present—both real and imagined—meet. Once it’s revealed, the truth—of the farmhouse, their mother, and Ennis’ reason for leaving—is darker and stranger than Guin could have imagined. Though the novel effectively maintains a sense of suspense and dread, it sometimes struggles under the weight of multiple nonlinear timelines. Regardless, Albert’s prose is undeniably beautiful as she contemplates memory, family lore, and the ways that art can both save and destroy people.

From Library Journal:

VERDICT- YA author Albert’s (The Bad Ones) adult debut is an atmospheric gothic fantasy that sees an eccentric set of siblings reframing their troubled childhoods, the legacy of their mother’s book series, and their present lives. A great addition to every collection.

---

From the Publisher:

#TheWhisperedWord #NetGalley

The Whispered Word is the second entry in the Secret, Book and Scone Society series.  The main characters’ secrets were fully described in the first book but a reader can still enjoy this one as a standalone novel.

What I enjoyed most about this book were the characters and the setting.  Yes, belief has to be suspended, but I would love to visit and spend time with Nora and her three closest friends.  Nora’s town, Miracle Springs. attracts people in need of saving and second chances.  Nora owns the local bookstore and is a very astute and well-versed bookseller.  There are many references to both fiction and non-fiction titles throughout the novel.  Nora herself is named for the character in Ibsen’s play.  Just a few of the titles mentioned in the novel include The Witch of Blackbird Pond, A Doll’s House, Harry Potter, One Snowy Day and a number of books on adoption and tidying up.

But of course, there is more than just books in this book.  Abilene comes to town and is a young girl who has had a difficult life and clearly has secrets of her own.  Has she committed crimes including murder?  There is also a shop, Virtual Genie that is offering to consign goods for people in the town.  It looks like a fantastic service but is there more to it?  You can probably answer these questions but finding out the answers is still fun.

The Whispered Word is about friendship, relationships, taking risks…and solving mysteries.  It is an excellent cozy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  I enjoyed my second visit with these characters .

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for the invitation to this spotlight tour. I was delighted to have an early copy of this title.

344 pages

Mystery and Thriller

Pub date: 09 June 2026

Four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

My thoughts:

The Forty-Year Grudge is the second book to feature the mismatched duo of Aubrey and Olivia. I enjoyed the first in this series which was titled The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant. The characters and their dynamics were brought to life there.

In this new book, Tully taps into a familiar ritual, the school reunion. These events may bring out many feelings and there are different degrees of enjoyment for people. However, most don’t get involved in murder as a result of a decision to spend time with those they knew a number of years ago. Of course, though, Aubrey and Olivia are not the usual attendees.

The story is one with a good plot and challenges for the characters and reader. It was fun to watch the events unfold.

Those who enjoyed the first book will want to read this one as well. Those who have not read book number one can read this on its own, though they may well want to go back for the first title afterwards. These books will be enjoyed by those who like traditional mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

About the book:

from the publisher

When the World’s Greatest Detective reunites with her college friends, she discovers that time doesn’t heal all wounds.

It’s been four decades since the women of Sigma Delta Tau were last together. The passing years, growing families, and maturing careers may have strained the bonds of sisterhood, but now a reunion at the Western ranch of one member offers an opportunity to renew acquaintances…and at least one long-standing grudge.

Still, this weekend is supposed to be a pleasant diversion for former sorority member and current private investigator Aubrey Merritt. She’s come to New Mexico to reconnect with old friends and she’s brought along her personal assistant, Olivia Blunt—an aspiring detective who is learning more about packing bags on this trip than about solving crimes.

The shocking murder of a sorority sister changes everything. With the local police overmatched, all eyes turn to Merritt and Blunt to crack the case. With a surprising abundance of suspects, it’s going to take both of them to cut through the knot of old hurts and current grievances to find the killer.

More about the book:

from the publisher

The novel, the second in the Merritt & Blunt Mysteries (though it can stand alone), finds world-famous detective Aubrey Merritt in attendance at her sorority’s fortieth reunion only because she believes an old friend to be in danger. However, when someone else is murdered, someone completely unexpected, it’s up to Aubrey and her nondescript young assistant, Olivia Blunt, to parse through old rivalries and piece together the crime.

Editorial reviews:

Kirkus Reviews states, “Looking for a reason to avoid your college reunion? Tully is happy to oblige.”

Publishers Weekly notes, “Readers will enjoy watching Olivia’s investigative skills evolve and appreciate the interplay between her and her imperious mentor. With all the clues cleverly hidden in plain sight, this is a treat for fair-play mystery fans.”

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/06/08/books/review/future-worlds-quiz.html