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

With thanks to Stop You’re Killing Me

The Macavity Award is named for Macavity: The Mystery Cat by T.S. Eliot. The Macavity Awards are nominated by members of Mystery Readers International, subscribers to Mystery Readers Journal, and friends of MRI. The Macavity Awards will be presented this fall.

Best Mystery Novel
°	Crooks by Lou Berney [review]
°	King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
°	Clown Town by Mick Herron
°	River of Lies by James L’Etoile
°	The White Crow by Michael Robotham [review]
°	All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Best First Mystery Novel
°	Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku [review]
°	Dead Money by Jakob Kerr [review]
°	Voices of the Elysian Fields by Michael Rigg
°	Stillwater by Tanya Scott [review]
°	History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook [review]

Best Mystery Nonfiction
°	Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to New England by Dawn M. Barclay
°	Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation by Michael Cannell
°	Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser
°	V is for Venom: Agatha Christie’s Chemicals of Death by Kathryn Harkup
°	Edgar Allan Poe: A Life by Richard Kopley
°	Cooler Than Cool: The Life and Work of Elmore Leonard by C.M. Kushins

Best Mystery Short Story
°	“Six-Armed Robbery” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier   Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous
°	“Hollywood Prometheus” by Christa Faust   Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons
°	“Finding Jimmy Baldwin” by Cheryl Head   Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons
°	“The Devil Himself” by Vaseem Khan   Double Crossing Van Dine
°	“The Skies Are Red” by Richie Narvaez   On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology
°	“Julius Katz Draws a Straight Flush” by Dave Zeltserman   Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, September/October 2025

Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery
°	Bye Bye Blackbird by Elizabeth Crowens
°	A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman
°	City Lights by Claire M. Johnson
°	The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver
°	The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Osler [review]
°	No. 10 Doyers Street by Radha Vatsal

#TheMinotaurSamplerVolume22 #NetGalley.

222 pages

Mystery & Thrillers

Pub date: 25 August 2026

Five stars ******

My thoughts:

I am always looking for my next read in my favorite genre. This free resource has led me to so many good books.

I have already read The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies (https://joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews.blog/2026/06/15/the-oxford-guide-to-scandal-lies-by-kate-westbury/) which I enjoyed very much.

I am equally intrigued to read some of the other titles that are featured here. For instance, I see that there is a new book by Sara Paretsky.

For each title, readers can see the cover, learn about the book and read a generous excerpt. There is information on the authors at the end.

This title is so easy to recommend. Mystery fans, pick it up. It is free.

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

Description:

from the publisher

Looking for a new book that will make your heart race? The twenty-second edition of The Minotaur Sampler compiles the beginnings of 6 can’t-miss novels publishing Fall 2026 for free and easy sampling.

The Oxford Guide to Scandal and Lies is an irresistible debut that introduces the Crown’s newest undercover operatives with dashes of mystery, romance, and academia.

Mother Daughter Sister Stranger is a twisty thriller following two sisters who are the sole survivors of a plane crash, but eleven years later on the anniversary of the crash, one of the sisters goes missing.

Mystic and the Missing Girl follows a reluctant psychic who can read tarot cards and get impressions from objects. Her aunt has always been blamed for a cold case in her small town, but when Drew is enlisted to help, she has the chance to clear her aunt’s name.

Murder on 34th Street is a delightful mystery where a dead body is found inside Macy’s, leading up to the iconic parade, and a determined assistant seeks justice and to save the store’s reputation from ruin.

Cherry follows three women who become entangled in a dangerous web of obsession and infatuation.

Bad Company follows a woman who receives an anonymous package threatening to reveal her identity as a former CIA agent and must figure out who is behind this and what their goal is before it’s too late.

With thanks to Stop You’re Killing Me

2026 SHAMUS AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
The Shamus Awards are given annually by the Private Eye Writers of America to honor excellent work in the Private Eye genre. The winners will be announced at the Opening Ceremonies of Bouchercon Calgary on October 22, 2026.

Best P.I. Novel
°	The Big Empty by Robert Crais
°	Photograph by Brian Freeman
°	Hatchet Girls by Joe R. Lansdale
°	Gray Dawn by Walter Mosley
°	Mirage City by Lev AC Rosen

Best P.I. Paperback Original
°	The Hook and the Eye by Raymond Benson
°	Sunday or the Highway by Cindy Fazzi
°	City Lights by Claire M. Johnson
°	Midnight Streets by Phil Lecomber
°	Catch Me on a Blue Day by M.E. Proctor

Best First P.I. Novel
°	Chase Harlem by Elise Burke Brown
°	Miles in Time by Lee Mathew Goldberg
°	Where the Bones Lie by Nick Kolakowski
°	Shadow of the Eternal Watcher by Josh Mendoza
°	The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan

Best P.I. Short Story
°	“The Roosevelt Affair” by Adam Meyer   Crimeucopia – Not So Frail Detective Agency
°	“The One Cry” by F.H. Batacan   Accidents Happene
°	“Dr. Bones” by Libby Cudmore   Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May/June 2025
°	“Hours on the Phone” by Gregory Fallis    Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, July/August 2025
°	“The Shadows” by Charles John Harper   Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May/June 2025

336 pages

Health, Mind & Body-Self-Help

Pub date: 19 May 2026

Five stars *****

Description:

from the publisher

A compassionate and practical guide to living with loss and navigating grief from one of the world’s leading voices in resilience, Dr. Lucy Hone.

From internationally renowned resilience expert Dr. Lucy Hone, How Will I Ever Get Through This? is a powerful new guide for reclaiming life after tragedy and all types of loss. Building on her groundbreaking TED talk and first book, Resilient Grieving, Dr. Hone offers a deeply compassionate, profoundly practical road map through the most difficult seasons of grief, the kind that follows not only death but also divorce, illness, estrangement, job loss, infertility, or any other life upheaval. The “hidden grief” from these “living losses” profoundly alter our lives and our well-being, but may not be evident to those around us.

Organized around twenty transformative questions (derived from Dr. Hone’s previously unpublished research) this essential book gently carries readers from the rawness of early loss—Why am I so tired? Who am I now? Will I ever feel happy again?—to a place of growth, meaning, strength, and renewal.

With a rare blend of scientific expertise, original research, moving personal storytelling, and poignant case studies, Dr. Hone delivers a hopeful guide that goes beyond survival—showing you how to live through loss with courage, grace, and purpose.

My thoughts:

If only we could get through life without experiencing the loss of relationships and/or experiencing grief and trauma. Of course that is impossible. Each time a major loss or struggle comes to someone, they need to figure out how to get through the challenging time.

Lucy Hone understands this and offers this book as a helpful guide. As is generally true these days, her book looks to evidence based therapy as a gold standard.

From the beginning, readers know that Hone has both personal and academic experience with her subject matter. She had a brother who died on early onset dementia, has grieved a daughter and friends, and experienced Christchurch’s earthquake for a start. She also academically has the title of Doctor.

Any reader who scans the table of contents will see the relevance of each of the chapters. From “How Will I Ever Get Through This” to “How Has Loss Changed You,” there are sections that are divided by “Ten Questions From You” and then “Ten Questions From Me.” Throughout, Hone writes in a highly accessible styel as she invites readers to engage with her ideas and activities. She does her job well.

Note that there are additional resources given at the end of this title.

I highly recommend this book. Just about everyone could benefit from its wisdom

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

Post first published on 16 July 2026

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From the Publisher:

Editorial Review:

“Hone understands loss. Her young daughter was killed in a car crash. But she has been able to turn her tragedy into a truly useful set of steps and writing prompts to guide anyone facing similar challenges. Readers will feel understood and comforted.” –Booklist, starred review

2026 DAGGER AWARDS PRESENTED
The Dagger Awards, awarded by The Crime Writer’s Association to celebrate the best in crime and thriller writing, were presented on July 2, 2026 in London. Our congratulations to the winners (listed first in each category) and to all of the nominees.

Diamond Dagger *

Mark Billingham

Gold Dagger
*	The Death of Us by Abigail Dean [review]
°	King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
°	Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson [review]
°	The Girl in Cell A by Vaseem Khan
°	The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon [review]
°	The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson [review]

Whodunnit Dagger
*	A Murder for Miss Hortense by Mel Pennant
°	Little Secrets by Victoria Goldman
°	Etiquette for Lovers & Killers by Anna Fitzgerald Healy
°	A Queer Case by Robert Holtom
°	Bad Influence by CJ Wray

Twisted Dagger
*	We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough
°	What Happens in the Dark by Kia Abdullah
°	Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke
°	Some of Us are Liars by Fiona Cummins
°	Scenes From a Tragedy by Carole Hailey
°	The Bodies by Sam Lloyd

Steel Dagger
*	King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
°	The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani
°	The Big Empty by Robert Crais
°	A Sting in her Tale by Mark Ezra
°	Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W Ihli
°	The Good Father by Liam McIlvanney
°	We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter [review]

First Novel Dagger
*	The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey [review]
°	The Peak by Sam Guthrie
°	The Lost Detective by Elspeth Latimer
°	The Vanishing Place by Zoë Rankin [review]
°	Coram House by Bailey Seybolt [review]
°	Holy City by Henry Wise [review]

Historical Dagger
*	A Granite Silence by Nina Allan
°	Barvick Falls by Rob McInroy
°	The Devil’s Draper by Donna Moore
°	Gunner by Alan Parks
°	The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson [review]
°	A Case of Life and Limb by Sally Smith [review]

Non-Fiction Dagger
*	That Dark Spring by Susannah Stapleton
°	Shadow of the Bridge: The Delphi Murders and the Dark Side of the American Heartland by Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee
°	The Spy in the Archive: How One Man Tried To Kill the KGB by Gordon Corera
°	The Murder Game by John Curran
°	Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser
°	The Illegals by Shaun Walker

Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger
*	The Winter Job by Antti Tuomainen
°	Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse [review]
°	The Lake by Jørn Lier Horst
°	Red Water by Jurica Pavičić
°	Big Bad Wool by Leonie Swann [review]
°	Strange Pictures by Uketsu

Short Story Dagger
*	“The Apple Falls Not Far” by Ambrose Parry
°	“Split Your Silver Tongue” by S.A. Cosby   Birds, Strangers and Psychos
°	“The Karpman Drama Triangle” by Denise Mina   Birds, Strangers and Psychos
°	“Full Circle” by Abir Mukherjee   Playing Dead: Short Stories by Members of the Detection Club
°	“Strangers on a School Bus” by Peter Swanson   Birds, Strangers and Psychos
°	“Waiting” by Michael Wood   Criminal Pursuits: This Is Me

Previous Dagger Awards

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2026 SHAMUS AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
The Shamus Awards are given annually by the Private Eye Writers of America to honor excellent work in the Private Eye genre. The winners will be announced at the Opening Ceremonies of Bouchercon Calgary on October 22, 2026.

Best P.I. Novel
°	The Big Empty by Robert Crais
°	Photograph by Brian Freeman
°	Hatchet Girls by Joe R. Lansdale
°	Gray Dawn by Walter Mosley
°	Mirage City by Lev AC Rosen

Best P.I. Paperback Original
°	The Hook and the Eye by Raymond Benson
°	Sunday or the Highway by Cindy Fazzi
°	City Lights by Claire M. Johnson
°	Midnight Streets by Phil Lecomber
°	Catch Me on a Blue Day by M.E. Proctor

Best First P.I. Novel
°	Chase Harlem by Elise Burke Brown
°	Miles in Time by Lee Mathew Goldberg
°	Where the Bones Lie by Nick Kolakowski
°	Shadow of the Eternal Watcher by Josh Mendoza
°	The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan

Best P.I. Short Story
°	“The Roosevelt Affair” by Adam Meyer   Crimeucopia – Not So Frail Detective Agency
°	“The One Cry” by F.H. Batacan   Accidents Happene
°	“Dr. Bones” by Libby Cudmore   Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May/June 2025
°	“Hours on the Phone” by Gregory Fallis    Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, July/August 2025
°	“The Shadows” by Charles John Harper   Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May/June 2025

Previous Shamus Awards

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2026 MACAVITY AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
The Macavity Award is named for Macavity: The Mystery Cat by T.S. Eliot. The Macavity Awards are nominated by members of Mystery Readers International, subscribers to Mystery Readers Journal, and friends of MRI. The Macavity Awards will be presented this fall.

Best Mystery Novel
°	Crooks by Lou Berney [review]
°	King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
°	Clown Town by Mick Herron
°	River of Lies by James L’Etoile
°	The White Crow by Michael Robotham [review]
°	All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Best First Mystery Novel
°	Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes by Sandra Jackson-Opoku [review]
°	Dead Money by Jakob Kerr [review]
°	Voices of the Elysian Fields by Michael Rigg
°	Stillwater by Tanya Scott [review]
°	History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook [review]

Best Mystery Nonfiction
°	Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide to New England by Dawn M. Barclay
°	Blood and the Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, and a Scandal That Shocked the Nation by Michael Cannell
°	Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers by Caroline Fraser
°	V is for Venom: Agatha Christie’s Chemicals of Death by Kathryn Harkup
°	Edgar Allan Poe: A Life by Richard Kopley
°	Cooler Than Cool: The Life and Work of Elmore Leonard by C.M. Kushins

Best Mystery Short Story
°	“Six-Armed Robbery” by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier   Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous
°	“Hollywood Prometheus” by Christa Faust   Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons
°	“Finding Jimmy Baldwin” by Cheryl Head   Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons
°	“The Devil Himself” by Vaseem Khan   Double Crossing Van Dine
°	“The Skies Are Red” by Richie Narvaez   On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology
°	“Julius Katz Draws a Straight Flush” by Dave Zeltserman   Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, September/October 2025

Sue Feder Memorial Historical Mystery
°	Bye Bye Blackbird by Elizabeth Crowens
°	A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman
°	City Lights by Claire M. Johnson
°	The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver
°	The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Osler [review]
°	No. 10 Doyers Street by Radha Vatsal

Note: On 15 July 2026, this book is an e book bargain at $1.99

#TheBookWitch #NetGalley

298 pages

Women’s fiction-Sci fi & Fantasy

Pub date: 07 April 2026

Five stars *****

My thoughts:

Prepare to suspend (a lot) of disbelief and then read this very enjoyable novel. It is full of books, books, books with the main character becoming immersed in the worlds of Nancy Drew, Jay Gatsby, Elizabeth Bennet and Alice (of Wonderland) to name just a few.

Those who have read other books by Shaffer (and I recommend doing so) know that she creates a unique world in each one. This time readers meet Rainy March (yes, she knows that her name is a pun) and the suave and sophisticated Duke of Chicago, among others.

Rainy is a Book Witch. Her calling is to keep books safe from those who want to destroy them or limit their readership. For instance, she has thus faced down someone who wants to remove Fahrenheit 401 from existence. It is not an easy job. All this goes on as Rainy tries to solve the mystery of what happened to her mother and to locate her missing grandfather.

There is quite a plot twist in this book. Readers will know when they get there.

Will Rainy find answers? Will she find love? Will readers love her? Pick this one up and find out.

I know that this book may not be for those who dislike magic in their books but for everyone else a treat is in store. This and all Meg Shaffer books are must reads for me.

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

Post first published on 15 July 2026

Description:

from the publisher

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • She can hop into any novel, but she just can’t stay there.

Come along with the Book Witch in this magical and inspiring love letter to reading from the USA Today bestselling author of The Wishing Game.

This hardcover edition includes gorgeously designed endpapers!

“Meg Shaffer continues to surprise and delight me with each book she writes.”—Laurie Gilmore, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Café

Rainy March is a proud, third-generation Book Witch, sworn to defend works of fiction from all foes real and imaginary. With her magical umbrella and feline familiar, she jumps in and out of novels to fix malicious alterations and rogue heroes like a modern-day magical Nancy Drew.

Book Witches live by a strict code: Real people belong in the real world; fictional characters belong in works of fiction. Do not eat, drink, or sleep inside a fictional world, lest you become part of the story. Falling in love with a fictional character? Don’t even think about it.

Which is why Rainy has been forbidden from seeing the Duke of Chicago, the dashing British detective who stars in her favorite mystery series. If she’s ever caught with him again, she’ll be expelled from her book coven—and forced to give up the magical gifts that are as much a part of her as her own name.

But when her beloved grandfather disappears and a priceless book is stolen, there’s only one person she trusts to help her solve the case: the Duke. Their quest takes them through the worlds of Alice in Wonderland, King Arthur, and other classics that will reveal hidden enemies and long-buried family secrets.

Editorial reviews:

Catnip for anyone who ever wished they could walk around in their favorite book. Kirkus Reviews

Shaffer (The Lost Story) delightfully reminds readers of the power of stories and books. Jumping through familiar favorites such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, the Nancy Drew books, and King Arthur legends, Rainy and the duke might even inspire nostalgic rereads. Library Journal

A Novel

by Satoshi Yagisawa

 #MoreDaysattheMorisakiBookshop #NetGalley

Anyone who read Days at the Morisaki Bookshop will, I am sure, be delighted to spend “More Days” there. Here is everything that made the first novel charming-the narrator and her family, a number of quirky characters, the neighborhood filled with bookshops, and, of course the books.

Those who have not read the first book will be easily brought up to date though they may well want to seek out the earlier title. Both books are short and quick reads even as readers may wish they were longer.

This is a book for bibliophiles, lovers of Japan and those who like unique and quirky stories.

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

Pub date: 02 July 2024

From the Publisher

The first book:

I would like to spend some: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (by Satsoshi Yagisawa)

Close to Death is a take on an AgathaChristie style mystery with the additional spin of this author’s cleverness. It is the latest in the series that features Detective Hawthorne and, yes, the character Anthony Horowitz.

This time the structure of the book is a bit different. Hawthorne, who gives Horowitz case material for his novels, is revealing a past puzzler. Some of the novel is a take on those events and other parts involve the perspectives of the two protagonists.

A close is a kind of dead end street. In this upscale one, a number of neighbors detest the newest family. The annoying, inconsiderate and very wealthy Kenworthy is murdered. The suspects include a GP, a retired barrister, two elderly former nuns, a chess grandmaster, a dentist and those around them. Whodunnit? Why? The pages turn as readers wait to fond out.

Last year I heard the author speak. He was very entertaining, just as he is in his writing. i think that he was enjoying himself here. The book offers a good read.

Note that, although this is part of a series, it can be read on its own.

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

Pub date: 16 April 2024

www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/books/review/golden-age-mysteries-starter-pack.html

#TheCloakandDaggerClub #NetGalley

Many thanks to Berkley for the invitation to this blog tour.

363 pages

Historical fiction-Mystery & Thrillers-Romance

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.

About the author:

Jackie McMahon writes murder mysteries with history, twists, and perhaps a romance (or two). She currently resides in Florida with her two cats, and in her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and sharing obscure historical facts she has recently learned. You can find her on Instagram and YouTube at @jackiereadsandwrites.

Editorial Reviews:

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

Fans of golden age mysteries will be satisfied. Publishers Weekly

This deliciously witty cozy with a touch of romance introduces a delightful new detecting duo who can easily match wits and trade quips with Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence Beresford as well as Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. Booklist

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From the Publisher: