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

For some reason, during the corona virus pandemic, I have been spending a lot of time in virtual Italy reading mysteries that are set there. My guides, until I read this novel, were Donna Leon and her Inspector Brunetti, and Andrea Camilleri and his Detective, Montalbano. Their novels feature an engaging protagonist, beautiful locations and, VERY IMPORTANT, delicious food.
So, I was curious about this book set in Tuscany and happy to receive an ARC. I was not disappointed. This novel, the start of a new series, and its detective, fit right into the sub genre of Italian police stories.
The protagonist of Murder in Chianti is widower and former New York City police detective, Nico. He has moved to Chianti following the death of his wife, Rita. Rita has a cousin in Chianti who owns a restaurant, one source of the delicious sounding food in the novel. Food wise, I would give a lot to get breakfast where Nico does each day. I also would like to sample some of the alcohol mentioned in the book, especially the red wines.
Around Nico are the police officers who want his help in solving a case, Perillo and Daniele. The murder of the story has ties with the past. The victim left Italy a number of years ago and became a successful vintner in California. Why did he return to Italy? How does this visit lead to his death? Who will be hurt as the case is solved?
This was a very readable book and one that I enjoyed. I recommend adding it to your TBR list.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an hoenst review. I look forward to the next novel in this seris.

#MurderinChianti #NetGalley

#LeaningtowardLight #NetGalley

Four stars ****

200 pages

Home & Garden-Poetry & Verse-Outdoors & Nature

Description:

from the publisher

This beautiful poetry anthology offers a warm, inviting selection of poems from a wide range of voices that speak to the collective urge to grow, tend, and heal—an evocative celebration of our connection to the green world. Much like reading a good poem, caring for plants brings comfort, solace, and joy to many. In this new poetry anthology, Leaning toward Light, acclaimed poet and avid gardener Tess Taylor brings together a diverse range of contemporary voices to offer poems that celebrate that joyful connection to the natural world. Several of the most well-known contemporary writers, as well as some of poetry’s exciting rising stars, contribute to this collection including Ross Gay, Jericho Brown, Mark Doty, Jane Hirshfield, Ada Limón, Danusha Laméris, Naomi Shihab Nye, Garrett Hongo, Ellen Bass, and James Crews. A foreword by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, reflective pauses and personal recipes from some of the contributing poets, along with original, whimsical illustrations by Melissa Castrillon, and a ribbon bookmark complete this stunning, hardcover gift format. 

My thoughts:

I am a person who loves to visit my local botanical gardens. There is such beauty and peace to be found there. I also enjoy reading poetry. Imagine how nice it was to see the two, gardens and poems (along with some prose and some recipes), together in this beautifully illustrated book. It would make an absolutely perfect gift for someone!

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

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From the Publisher:

Featuring poems from notable contemporary poets including:

71 pages

Non-fiction

Five stars *****

Pub date: 01 September 2026

My thoughts:

Katherine Rundell seems like the perfect person to write this short book. After all, she has her very own example of books that can be loved by both adults and children (See Impossible Creatures, for one).

Interestingly for me, I read this right after talking about The Secret Garden with someone and buying the first book in the Moomins series. I also admit that as an adult I have reread Anne of Green Gables and Little Women, to name just two titles.

In this book, Rundell makes an informed and informative case for the importance of children’s books. She traces their history (surprisingly, a lot on nose picking), and evolution. Most importantly, she notes that these books help children to explore other worlds and also provides them with a sense of hope. Going back and reading children’s lit can do much the same for adults. Rundell advocates for no shame in reading kid’s lit. She provides one very noteworthy example that references Heidi. What a reminder of the importance of books that was.

I recommend this short title to anyone who thinks about children’s literature. So many good books are mentioned in passing and many will close this title and think about what children’s book they want to pick up and start reading.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s Books for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Post first published on 17 August 2026

Description:

from the publisher

A celebration, in a pocket-sized format, of the joys and vital importance of children’s literature for adult readers, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Impossible Creatures.

Katherine Rundell, one of the most accomplished modern children’s writers, offers an extended essay about the pleasures and benefits of reading children’s literature as an adult.

Rundell explores how children’s books ignite—and can re-ignite—the imagination; how children’s fiction, with its unabashed emotion and playfulness, can awaken old hungers and create new perspectives on the world.

Infinitely wise and thought-provoking, Rundell’s short book is a perfect one-sitting read, and a terrific gift for the book-lover in your life.

From the publisher:

Editorial Review

“A passionate, persuasive, and perceptive case for embracing children’s fiction—at any age.” —Kirkus Reviews

An e book bargain

Lady Clementine is a wonderful historical novel and one that I highly recommend. As can be seen from the title, it is the story of Clementine Churchill, wife of Winston. The story is told in Clementine’s voice and Ms. Benedict inhabits that so well that, while reading, I truly felt that Clementine was telling her story. The book focuses quite a bit on WWII but there was much before that in Clementine’s biography and these earlier times merit also captured the author’s attention.

Readers learn that Clementine’s childhood was rather insecure and find out why this was so. The losses she experienced and her opportunities to marry before meeting Winston are detailed.

Clementine and Winston had many years together prior to WWII. Readers experience the ups and downs of their relationship, Winston’s political and military woes and their significant family tragedy. Winston’s neediness and strong need for Clementine to be available become quite clear. Readers also witness Clementine’s mental health struggles and the challenges that she faced as a mother. Throughout there is the lens of Clementine finding her own voice and her desire to be appreciated and recognized for the incredible woman that she was.

I give this novel 5 stars, something that I rarely do. I recommend it that highly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this read in exchange for an honest review.

This book will be published in January 2020.

Praise for Lady Clementine:

“Benedict is a true master at weaving the threads of the past into a compelling story for today. Here is the fictionalized account of the person who was the unequivocal wind beneath Winston Churchill’s wings — a woman whose impact on the world-shaper that was WW2 has been begging to be told. A remarkable story of remarkable woman.”—Susan Meissner,  bestselling author of The Last Year of the War

“The atmospheric prose of Marie Benedict draws me in every single time. Lady Clementine’s powerful and spirited story is both compelling and immersive. Benedict fully inhabits the measured and intelligent voice of Clementine Churchill. Entranced throughout, I discovered the secrets behind a familiar story I thought I knew. Deftly moving from the early nineteen hundreds through World War II, Benedict skillfully paints a vivid picture of the times and life of Clementine, the remarkable woman who was the steady force beside Winston Churchill.” —Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis 

More on Clementine Churchill

I admired both Sonia Purnell and Clementine Churchill even before I was (fortunately) approved by NetGalley for this book on Clementine Churchill . I learned so much from the biography written by Ms. Purnell. This book reiterates many important elements of this fascinating woman’s biography, from her troubled childhood throughout two World Wars and her life beyond. What makes this book different and special, at least to me, are the photographs. They are fascinating both in terms of Clementine and Winston’s lives and as illustrations of the lives of people who lived throughout the 1900s. The text and photos are perfect complements to one another and add to the depth of experience for the reader.

I am savoring this book as I read it. I highly recommend it and give it five stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this magnificent book.

I have read but not reviewed this.  It is excellent.

#BookPeople #NetGalley

Imagine a small village. It has a very traditional bookshop that has been in one family for generations. It prides itself on being serious and is run by a Darcy like owner.

Imagine that a new bookshop opens and that it is right across the street. It is run by an Elizabeth Bennett like young woman. She stocks all of the genre books that a reader might dream about. She also offers many types of meetings and activities.

Imagine also that there is going to be a book event that these two may need to both embrace. And…imagine sparks flying in what is justifiably described as a “spicy” romance title.

Add to all of this, a collection of love notes from the traditionalist’s great grandfather and a mystery woman. They refer to each other as H and C-Wuthering Heights anyone? They add some intrigue to the plot.

Mix all of thesetogether to find an enjoyable read that will appeal to its intended audience. There may not be suspense but there most definitely is fun in these pages.

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

Pub date: 28 January2925

I have enjoyed other novels by this author so was very happy to settle down with her latest. It offers a long read with multiple characters and their interrelationships. The setting in a small town was evocative and left me wishing that I could go for a visit.

Readers meet two main characters. They are Daisy and Mason. Daisy is a nurse whose work has been in fast paced, trauma settings. For reasons that are not immediately clear, Daisy flees/moves away from her position to one in this small town. For his part, Mason has returned home where he coaches the high school baseball team. His own potential career was cut short when he suffered an injury at the end of high school. He is described as having a bit of a reputation.

Daisy and Mason meet when Mason discovers a newborn in a dumpster. The first nurse he sees at the hospital is Daisy. Their relationship progresses from there with the two very interested in this baby’s future. Who is she? What happened?

Another intriguing character is Tilley. She is a great aunt to some cute children with whose family she lives. Tilley has a backstory that seems quite intriguing though it will take readers many pages before they fully understand her.

There are so many more characters in this book. Many of them are members of Mason’s clan while others are moms at the school, Daisy’s family and others. In fact, I had a bit of trouble remembering exactly who was who. It doesn’t matter though, it is possible to just keep going.

There are discoveries to be made in these pages as Daisy comes to understand her past and her mother. No spoilers here though. Others will also grow.

This novel would make an ideal beach/vacation read. It is another hit for this author.

Library Journal observes that

With small-town charm, memorable characters, and thoughtful explorations of motherhood, grief, and redemption, this heartwarming novel is a moving story of second chances and unexpected love.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 May 2026

Post first published on 30 April 2026

Description:

from the publisher

“Queen of the beach read,” (Cosmopolitan) New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with a heartfelt escape to coastal Carolina.

After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.

I know that the novels of Fredrik Backman have been incredibly well received by readers, yet I had never read one of his novels before coming to Anxious People. This book is an excellent read with a unique authorial voice and an understanding of both its characters and the universality of some aspects of the story. There are so many quotes that I will remember from this book.

The novel’s story arc has to do with a robbery, but one that never really happened. It is more about the people who happened to be affected by it, simply because of where they were at a particular moment in time. Readers get to know each of them well. There is humor and tugging at heart strings as readers make their way through the short chapters.

One of my favorite books is Bel Canto which also has as its premise the taking of hostages. This one is quite different but both are memorable and worth the reader’s time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

#HollowBones #NetGalley

General-Women’s fiction

464 pages

Four-Five stars

Pub date: 15 September 2026

Description:

from the publisher

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name comes a riveting novel about the risks we take to protect the ones we love in a world where crisis is always just around the corner.

On September 11, 2001, when Molly Fitzgerald was only two months old, her mother went to an appointment at the World Trade Center and never came home. Her father and the stepmother who raised her couldn’t have loved her more, but she still grew up with a healthy dread of disasters.

Now an adult, she runs the Rhode Island Department for Emergency Preparedness, mapping out ways to save lives during storms, epidemics, and airplane crashes. She and her husband, Jesse—a police polygraph expert with his own history of crisis—have found a love that is a solace in a dangerous world. But then the unexpected upends their new marriage, leading them both to question everything they thought they knew.

Moving between past and present, Hollow Bones is an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves as we write the narratives of our lives, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

My thoughts:

I found Hollow Bones to be a difficult read in many ways. While I don’t often do trigger warnings, see these. Skip if these are not needed as they are spoilers.

READ OR SKIP

9/11; disasters; post-partum depression/psychosis; suicide;religious, cruel, fanatical parent.

BACK TO MY THOUGHTS

Jodi Picoult always/often uses her fiction to highlight issues that have been in the news. For example, she sensitively wrote about a school shooting (Nineteen Minutes), and all aspects of the abortion debate in A Spark of Light. She is a master at this.

As noted above in the read/skip section, she takes on very difficult issues in this book and I admit that I found parts of this book quite painful to read. I kept going because I know that Picoult is an author to trust.

I did very much like getting to know Molly and Jesse. Readers watch as their relationship evolves. They are an interesting couple who, for personal reasons, play a game of imaging the worst things that could happen. Readers will hope for them.

The story of Eloise, Molly’s mother, is told graphically and sympathetically. Readers will come to understand her struggles which were profound.

Around these central figures are Molly’s father, his second wife (Eloise’s best friend) and others. All are well drawn.

Parts of this book were set in Rhode Island, a place that I know well. Clearly the author researched the setting very carefully as it was extremely accurate. I appreciated that, along with the chance to revisit places that I know. For example, Brown, RISD, Roger Williams Park, Hasbro, etc are found here.

Watch for the references to the title in these pages. Hollow Bones are described and help the reader relate to the story. Also, note the cover. Those mosaics also have significance. And just for something else, learn a lot about lie detectors. Finally, be sure to read the author’s note.

As is usual for Picoult this book is one with resonance and one that I will not soon forget.

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

Post first published on 15 August 2026

What the author told Publishers Weekly:

“…it’s a book about how the past informs the present and the future—so it’s a personal milestone for me. But it’s also a book about the lies we tell ourselves and others, being published at a time when lies are being told by authority figures so frequently that they are being interpreted as facts. In an environment like that, sometimes the only way to get to the truth is through fiction.”

From Kirkus Reviews:

he queen of social activist novels has done it again. Impressive, important, and fun to read.

From the Publisher:

I have read and enjoyed many books by Jill Mansell. In fact, Miranda’s Big Mistake was one of the first books that I ordered from England when it was not available where I live. I have gone on to read just about all of Mansell’s novels. (See my blog for reviews of some of these titles.)

Just One Look at You is vintage Mansell in all the best ways. This is a story that offers some lovely settings (including Venice), good characters, complex relationships, some sad times and more. I recommend it highly.

In these pages meet Fen, Leon, Disa, Hattie, Kyla, Jamie and others. Watch as their lives evolve and intersect. I think that readers will want the best for them within what is possible. (No spoilers, so no more) I know that I did.

Those who enjoy women’s fiction should definitely give this one a look.

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the publisher:

Venice. The perfect setting for romance, and for secrets to be shared.

Fen can’t believe her luck. A luxury holiday with her beloved grandmother Disa – what could be more delightful? It doesn’t cross her mind that she might fall in love. Or that love can bring complications . . .

Jamie can’t help it that women always fall for him, rather than for his kind-hearted friend Leon. Nor that only one of them got the looks (that would be Jamie). But how will he feel if the girl he’s drawn to only has eyes for Leon?

Disa has a secret. A few weeks ago, an old letter in a file revealed a shocking truth about her late husband. She’s come to Venice to find out more.

There’s news on the way that will reverberate through all their lives, as Jill Mansell’s joyful, heartbreaking new novel takes readers on a roller coaster ride of emotion – and makes us believe in love again.

Love for Just One Look At You:

‘Stunning, utterly beautiful . . . Jill at her absolute best. One of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read’ Jo Thomas

‘A wonderful, fulfilling ride on a tidal wave of emotion . . . Guaranteed to flood your heart with all the feels’ Milly Johnson

‘Sunshine in every line, a great big romantic read to sink into and enjoy – I loved it’ Faith Hogan

64 pages

Children’s Nonfiction

Four stars ****

Pub date: 13 October 2026

Description:

from the publisher

True stories of fearless explorers who changed the world! Includes an exclusive Explorer’s Passport to collect the journeys of today’s young adventurers.

Adventure, discovery, and courage: Brave Explorers takes young readers on a journey through time and space! From Marco Polo to Christopher Columbus, from Freya Stark to Margarita Salas, every page tells the extraordinary stories of men and women who dared to face the unknown.

Hidden inside is an exclusive Explorer’s Passport to customize and carry “on the journey,” where children can collect stamps and keepsakes, jot down fun facts, routes, and personal discoveries—turning reading into an interactive, creative adventure.

• Interactive Explorer’s Passport included for notes and curiosities.
• An Innovative Format: This illustrated large book with a bonus element is perfect for engagement and merchandising.
• Historical and Modern Learning: Features both historical and modern explorers—men and women—for an inclusive and engaging narrative.

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A Note From the Publisher

Explorer’s Passport included as a bonus!
Features Historical and Modern Explorers: Includes both men and women—for an inclusive and engaging narrative.
Bright, Detailed Illustrations: Catches the eye and makes the book stand out on shelves.
Educational Approach: Blends history, geography, and culture in an accessible, stimulating way.
Large Format with Hardcover Finish: Ideal as a gift or collector’s item.
Short, Clear, Narrative Texts: Suitable for independent or shared reading.

My thoughts:

This title invites children to learn more about famous explorers. For each, there is a two page spread with lively illustrations. I like that those featured are from different cultures, places and times and that both men and women are found in these pages. Some explorers will already be known to the reader white others may be new to adults as well. Kids may be inspired to learn more about any favorites that they come to know in these pages.

There is a “passport” at the back which is a notebook where kids can record their own travels. Hopefully they will be inspired.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster-White Star for this title. All thoughts are my own.