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

#OrdinaryAltars #NetGalley

Pub date: 26 January 2027

Religion & Spirituality

Description:

from the publisher

You don’t always get to change the world, but you do get to love it.

From “one of our most important progressive Christian voices” (Jen Hatmaker), an urgent invitation to actually love the world even when it breaks your heart

Many of us were taught to look for God in the extraordinary: in big callings, dramatic transformations, affirmations of constant achievement, or in lives that inspire millions. But what if that way of seeing has left us unable to recognize that God is also present in the everyday—especially now, when headlines are overwhelming, our systems feel broken, and hope seems naïve? What does it mean to actually live a faithful, meaningful life when the world is on fire and nothing turns out as advertised?

Drawing from her own story of faith, disillusionment, motherhood, and decades of work as a spiritual guide, Sarah Bessey believes there comes a time when you decide that being earnest and sincere is better than being defeated. She names what she calls “ordinary altars”: places and people where the holy and the commonplace meet, not as an escape from our daily lives but as full-bodied engagement with the questions of our time and an encounter with the God who is with us in it all. Blending rich storytelling and compassionate spiritual insight, Ordinary Altars is a declaration of choosing stubbornly, again and again, to keep loving your small patch of the world when it would be easier to shut down or walk away or even become what you despise.

For readers who are spiritually tired but still hopeful, deconstructed but longing to rebuild, grappling with despair but determined to make room in their spirituality for the ache in their chest, Ordinary Altars offers honest field notes for a sturdy faith that can bear the weight of the world—rooted in reality, loving defiantly, and being stubbornly faithful enough to make the world feel like home again.

My thoughts:

Many people currently feel some despair about the state of the world. There is so much that causes concern and there are those who want to figure out ways to manage at this time, and to have some belief while living life in these era. This is what Bessey offers to her readers in this personal title that includes reflections about daily life and finding ways to love the imperfect world as it is.

Bessey notes that, in her belief, God can be found in the dailiness of life, for example, when her young child spills cereal all over the floor and she needs to clean up yet again. Her thought is that one does not have to be in an organized setting like a church to feel a spiritual presence/connection. For those who have a religious faith, this will, I think, resonate. Those who do not have a strong religious grounding may also find her thoughts to be interesting, heartening and thought provoking.

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

poisonedpen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/BN-Oct-26.pdf

Women’s fiction-Mystery

Pub date: 10 September 2026

384 pages

Four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

My thoughts:

Sally Page’s novels are must reads for me. I love the way that she tells her stories with warmth and heart. She does exactly that here.

This title, was as enjoyable as any of her other books but, was a bit different in that it included a cozy mystery. Nonetheless, it was vintage Sally Page with its characters who come to life and some life lessons as well.

Lara, a florist, has become close to Lady Porter after many visits with her. She is dismayed when Lady Porter dies and questions the cause given for her death. As a result, Lara wants to dig deeper. Imagine her surprise when Abigail appears to help her. The two will work together and readers will wait to see what they find out as various characters and motivations come to life. Readers will also become engaged in Lara’s life and relationships.

Readers will hope for a happy ending for Lara. They will also be delighted to have spent time getting to know (ghost) Abigail.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

Escape into the world of Sally Page with the perfect armchair read! From the author of phenomenal bestsellers The Keeper of Stories and The Book of Beginnings comes another novel that will warm your heart.

An unexpected guest. One mystery to solve…

All Lara wanted was a quiet life as a florist when she moved to North Dorset. But the death of her close friend Lady Porter changed everything.

Lara suspects foul play – she just can’t prove it.

That is, until The Hon. Abigail Rossmore arrives. An unexpected guest with an extraordinary story to tell, this maybe Lara’s only chance at justice.

Together, can they uncover what really happened to Lady Porter, and will Lara rediscover herself along the way? Readers LOVE Sally Page!

‘What a gem of a book!’★★★★★

‘I am in awe of Sally Page’s writing’ ★★★★★

‘So refreshingly original’ ★★★★★

‘You just have to read it’ ★★★★★

‘A read cover-to-cover-in-one-sitting book that gives all the feels’ ★★★★★

‘Wonderful, just wonderful’★★★★★

From the Publisher:

A Novel

by Kate Quinn is an e book bargain

#TheRoseCode #NetGalley

Pub date: March 9, 2021

To say the most important thing first…I LOVED this book and highly recommend it. Yes, there are many, many novels currently being published that are set in WWII. I have read and enjoyed many of them. Still, even if you feel WWII fiction fatigue, give this one a chance.

The Rose Code’s main setting is Bletchley Park. As most know, this was an important location for those who broke codes and helped to win the war. Into this setting come three women:

Osla: She was a debutante before the war took her to BP but she has always wanted to do more and to be seen as more than this. Osla had a haphazard upbringing by a neglected mother but she moves in society’s highest circles; her godfather is Mountbatten and she knows a certain Phillip very well.

Mabel, renamed (by herself) as Mab: She grew up in Shoreditch where expectations for her were low. Coming to BP allows her to do and become more.

Bethan/Beth: She has lived in the shadow of a domineering mother but BP allows her particular genius and talents to flourish. She has a laser like focus and a great talent for the work she does.

What happens to these three and the events and people around them form the core of this immersive read. There are romance, joy, friendship, traitors, hardship, mystery and more contained in the pages of the story. It will engage readers who will wish that the book were even longer than its hefty length.

I listened to the audio of this title. The narrator was fantastic. She created each of the characters with their own voice.

Whether you like to read or listen, put this one on your TBR list.

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

#HolmesAwayfromHome #NetGalley

277 pages

Historical fiction-Mystery & Thrillers

Pub date: 16 September 2026

Four stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

My thoughts:

I was first drawn to this book by its cover. It offered a lot of information, letting me know that it was about an Adler and clearly had a Holmes connection. Further, the cover showed the mystery with an illustration of a woman with a magnifying glass, as well as a lock and key, signifying things to be discovered. In addition, I found the cover to be attractive.

Indeed this book is adjacent to the Holmes canon, featuring as it does, the daughter of Irene Adler and (could it be Sherlock) himself. That said, there is also a story here in its own right.

What is the meaning of the post card that gives this title its name? What will happen at a country estate? Who will Althea meet? Has Althea inherited any of the talents of her parents? Will William and Althea form a relationship as well as a partnership? Will this be the start of a series? Read this title to find answers to some of these questions It offered an enjoyable read.

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

Description:

from the publisher

Step into Edwardian London and meet the irresistible Althea Adler — daughter of Sherlock Holmes’s nemesis, the notorious thief and opera star Irene Adler.

A heart-racing game of wits, murder and romance is about to commence . . .

London, 1911. A mysterious postcard arrives for Althea Adler with just four words: “Holmes away from home.” Suspecting the note is an instruction from her mother to steal something valuable from the great detective, Althea breaks into his safe. She finds an old photograph of Irene — and a clue leading back to her year of birth. Could Sherlock Holmes be her real father?

Still reeling, Althea accepts an invitation to a society weekend at Twickenham Towers. But when the Earl of Tipon is found murdered in his study, she forms an unlikely, fiery partnership with a fellow guest: the dashing William, Marquess of Sheffield.

Althea is unaware that William is on a secret government mission to spy on the earl’s son. She only knows that he’s smart . . . and annoyingly handsome.

Can Althea and William outwit a cunning killer before someone else dies — or before they fall for each other?

If you love witty, lively whodunits then you’ll adore this first in a new series. Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey!

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From the Publisher:

#MealsYouCantMessUp #NetGalley

256 pages

Cooking

Pub date: 22 September 2026

Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My thoughts:

What a fantastic book for those who need to garner some confidence in the kitchen. There are recipes for Breakfast & Brunch, Soups & Salads, Sandwiches, Pasta & Pizza, Chicken Dinners, Recipes with Other Meats, Seafood & Vegetarian, Party Snacks, and Desserts and Cocktails.

An example from each category:

Sweet Potato and Asparagus Frittata

Charred Corn and Potato Chowder

Wasabi Avocado Chicken Salad Toasts

Brown Butter Tomato and Corn Pappardelle

Cheater’s Chicken Parm

Crispy Beef and Mushroom Sheet Pan Fajitas

Buttery Roasted Cod with Garlic and Herb Tomatoes

Nacho Chessecake

and

Mixed Berry Cardamom Cobbler

There is a lot of useful information in the book before the recipes. This is definitely worth looking at. I also liked the “don’t mess it up” advice that came with the recipes and the many photos throughout.

I very much like this cookbook and the author who gives good guidance. This title would make a nice gift for someone just starting out or for anyone who would like to start cooking at home more.

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

From the Publisher:

#DeathTimesSeven #NetGalley

I have been reading Anne Perry’s novels since the very first in her Thomas and Charlotte Pitt series was published many years ago. This book’s protagonist is Charlotte and Thomas’s son, Daniel, an attorney. This is the seventh book that features him. Note for those who are new to Perry; there are also the Monk Elena Standish series.

It is so hard to know that there will be no more books by Ms. Perry as she died a couple of years ago. She was an author whose books were always must reads for me. I, and other readers, will miss her.

So, it was a bit elegiac for me to pick up Death Times Seven, knowing that it would be my last encounter in Perry’s world. That said, I dove right in.

There are several challenges for Daniel in the pages of this historical mystery. His friend and fellow lawyer, Toby, is faced with a horrific tragedy and some questions about exactly what happened to his parents and Daniel is there for him. In another story line, there is a case in the Old Bailey that Toby was defending. Daniel will become involved in that as well. Daniel’s wife Miriam will also have a role in these pages, something that fans of the series will welcome.

I recommend this book to those who already know Anne Perry’s novels. Those who are new to her books, may want to start one of the series in order. They will undoubtedly catch up and then read this one.

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

Pub date: 14 April 2026

Post first published on 6 April 2026

Description:

from the publisher

Two violent crimes challenge the investigative skills of young Daniel Pitt and his wife, Miriam, in the final novel of iconic mystery writer Anne Perry’s beloved Daniel Pitt series.

“A towering achievement from a towering talent—superb!” —Jeffery Deaver, author of the Colter Shaw series

1913: Junior attorney Daniel Pitt must step in for his friend, fellow attorney Toby Kitteridge, whose parents have been brutally attacked. Toby’s mother is dead and his father, a village vicar, is barely alive. With Toby returning to the family home in rural Ipswich, struggling with grief and disbelief, Daniel remains in London to substitute for Toby and defend Peter Ward, on trial for the sexual assault and murder of a young woman.

Daniel is convinced that Ward is innocent, yet the evidence seems to prove otherwise. Eager to assist, his pathologist wife, Miriam fford Croft, offers her forensics expertise and exposes a community of fellow pathologists who may have purposefully omitted information from their autopsy reports. Despite Miriam’s involvement in the case, Daniel finds himself distracted by his desire to help Toby, who is too distraught to investigate the attack on his parents. And when the evidence points to Toby’s father as the killer of Toby’s mother, Daniel faces two of the greatest challenges of his young career: proving the innocence of both Peter Ward and Reverend Kitteridge. One mistake in London and a blameless man will hang. One mistake in Ipswich and Toby’s father will go to prison for life.

Death Times Seven, the seventh and final novel in Anne Perry’s Daniel Pitt series, was completed by Victoria Zackheim, an author and editor as well as Perry’s close friend. Rich in intrigue and courtroom drama, this engrossing novel marks a fitting finale to the career of an author widely praised as the queen of historical crime fiction.

#TheParadoxClubBookClubKit #NetGalley

My thoughts:

Every book that I have read by Charlie Lovett has been one that I enjoyed. My favorites are probably First Impressions and The Lost Book of the Grail; however, that said, I feel that a book by this author is a must read for me.

I will be getting this book for sure. In the meanwhile, this book club kit has definitely whetted my appetite for what is to come.

Inside find a number of interesting entries. Among these are a letter from the author, an interview with him, discussion questions and more. There’s even a cryptogram. All of these can be enjoyed either by the intended book club or the individual reader.

One thing to note is that there are some spoilers in the book kit. Therefore a reader should decide when to access it.

I enjoyed this kit and look forward to reading the novel even more now.

Many thanks to NetGalley and We Are Bookish for this kit. All thoughts are my own.

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description:

from the publisher

This is a downloadable and printable resource for book clubs reading The Paradox Club by Charlie Lovett. The kit includes an author interview, discussion questions, and more. This is not the actual book. This kit was sponsored by Disney Publishing Worldwide.

About the Book:
A lightning-paced mystery about a brilliant yet troubled young woman and her connection to a secret society where knowledge is power—and her father’s research is the key to its most dangerous secret.

Tess Maxwell grew up fascinated by the stars and her father Harry’s stories and his scientific lessons. But ever since Harry’s death ten years ago, Tess has felt out of sync with the world and suspects that there’s more to her father’s work—and death—than anyone has let on.

When she discovers a cryptic puzzle he left behind, she’s thrust into the hidden world of the Paradox Club, a covert organization operating out of an unremarkable Manhattan brownstone where scholars guard knowledge with the power to reshape human history. But the club is fracturing, a rogue member is moving to exploit its most dangerous secrets, and Tess’s family is at the center of it all. As she races to uncover the truth about her father’s work, Tess becomes a pawn in a battle for control of the society and the world‑altering information it protects. Can she confront the paradox at the heart of her father’s work and her difficult past to solve the mysteries of her identity, Harry’s death, and the universe?

The Paradox Club blends scientific intrigue, buried histories, and escalating danger into a propulsive mystery perfect for readers who love secret societies, intellectual puzzles, and revelations that upend everything we think we know.

Her Majesty The Queen Investigates

by SJ Bennett

#ADeathinDiamonds #NetGalley

A Death in Diamonds is the fourth entry in this most enjoyable series that offers readers Queen Elizabeth the sleuth, and what a talented detective she is. This title can be read on its own but readers will, I think, enjoy every one of the earlier books as well.

This time, a Bishop’s bolthole is the site of the murders of a couple seemingly having an assignation. The woman is wearing a valuable tiara that, it turns out, Princess Margaret had wanted to possess.

Who are these two? Why were they killed? Are their murders related to a series of subtle threats and annoyances that Queen Elizabeth has been facing? Is someone in the Queen’s most inner circle, in fact, unworthy of her trust?

As the Queen cannot do everything (after all, she has many other duties), she looks to help from her newest employee, the formidable Joan, to assist. The two communicate in varied ways, including by sending messages through what others will see as the frivolity of the Queen’s fashion.

What I most enjoy in this series is the reasonably plausible way in which the Queen’s life is portrayed. There are interactions between her and Philip and with Charles and Anne, the two children who are alive at the time that the story is set. The mysteries themselves also offer a fun read.

It is easy to recommend this title to Anglophiles and lovers of traditional mysteries. I look forward to the next in this series.

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

Pub date: 21 January 2025

The audio book:

How fortunate listeners are to have actress Samantha Bond read this story. She carries the story along and is a delightful companion throughout the audio. I feel that her British intonation adds a sense of verisimilitude to the novel.

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this excellent audio title.

All opinions are my own.

Look for reviews of these others in the series on my blog:

#TriviaChallengeforSeniors #NetGalley

192 pages

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

My thoughts:

Here are over 500 trivia questions for either doing on one’s own, or using as the basis for a quiz night. The questions are organized by decade, beginning in the 1950’s and going through the 1980’s. The photos throughout give this title a nostalgic feel.

Each section begins with a brief introduction to the decade. Then the questions that follow are organized by topic, as for example, That’s Entertainment, A Moment in History, and Everyday Life.

This book will offer a non-stressful challenge to its audience while challenging recall of the trivia facts that the reader has stored up over the years.

I recommend this title to its intended audience. It could make a good gift that leads to discussion.

Many thanks to Zeitgeist for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 03 November 2026

Description

Treat Yourself to 500 Trivia Questions in a Variety of Formats to Boost Your Brain Power!

You’ve lived through interesting and exciting times, but how much do you remember? This entertaining trivia challenge quizzes you on the people, places, and events of the decades that shaped generations. What was Elvis Presley’s first film role? How long did the Cuban Missile Crisis last? What tennis legend won the Battle of the Sexes against Bobby Riggs? What fast-food chain used the slogan “Where’s the beef?” And what boxer promoted a countertop electric grill? Exercise your memory muscles with these fascinating, brain-boosting questions!

• 500 enlarged-print trivia questions in different formats, including multiple choice, true or false, fill-in-the-blank, and more
• Questions divided by decade (1950s–1990s) and then by topic: entertainment, history, sports, innovation and discovery, and everyday life
• Answers that are put into context and include additional fun facts: For example, George Foreman is the boxer who promoted a countertop electric grill, but in Asia, the grill is marketed by Jackie Chan
• Questions and answers that are sure to spark memories and conversations; share the trivia challenge with your favorite people!
• A thoughtful gift for parents, grandparents, retirees, and other trivia-loving seniors who enjoy reminiscing

Written by a four-time Jeopardy! contestant, this fact-packed book will keep you thinking and guessing as you remember and relive the moments of your life.