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

#BeattieCavendishandtheHighlandHideaway #NetGalley

This book follows on the first Beattie Cavendish novel, Beattie Cavendish and the White Pearl Club. Those who enjoyed that book, and those who like detective/spy stories will want to give this one a look. It offers a fun read that requires just a bit of suspension of disbelief.

I enjoyed the characters, the time period and the trip to Scotland. The plot was also engaging.

I am certainly be wondering what Beattie will do next! Hopefully, there will be a third book in this series.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Allison & Busby and Amber Jupp for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Description:

from the publisher:

1949. The Cold War is tightening its grip, spies lurk in every shadow, and the race for the atomic bomb is reaching a deadly pitch.

When GCHQ operative Beattie Cavendish is sent to a pivotal listening station in a remote corner of the Scottish Highlands, she finds a base in chaos – its commander missing, its mission compromised, and whispers of a German spy ring closing in. But Beattie’s task takes a darker and more personal turn when her uncle vanishes nearby, leaving behind a chilling note: I know who you really are.

With private detective Patrick Corrigan at her side, Beattie must uncover the truth before snow and secrecy seal them in. For here, betrayal runs deep, and no one is who they seem.

From the publisher:

1949. The Cold War is intensifying and rumours abound that the Russians are close to creating an atomic bomb.

Beattie Cavendish, special operative for a covert section of GCHQ is sent to Scotland, to a listening station in the Highlands at Kilbray. Beattie’s arrival is greeted with suspicion by the station’s staff. She faces an uphill battle to turn things around. When Beattie discovers that her uncle Howard, who lives nearby, has gone missing, she becomes convinced his disappearance is more sinister. She learns Howard has been visiting a remote Highland lodge used during the war to hide out of favour special operation executive officers. As she delves deeper, there is no one she feels she can trust except for private detective Patrick Corrigan. But Corrigan has troubles of his own as he needs to get out of London after crossing the Kutsnetsov brothers, a pair of notorious Russian gangsters.

As the snow begins to fall hard and fast, Beattie realises the search is putting her life and that of Corrigan’s in danger, and that the answers she is looking for lie buried in her wartime past.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/books/review/tayari-jones-kin.html

A Novel of the Discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb

by Gill Paul

An e book bargain

Many of the historical novels that I have read recently have employed a dual timeline with two protagonists as a structure for the narrative. In this novel, both timelines are told through the eyes of Evelyn Herbert, daughter of the Earl of Carnarvon and wife of Borogard Beauchamp.

Eve’s father helped to underwrite the work of Howard Carter in Egypt. As many know, Carter “discovered” the tomb of Tutankhamun with its many riches and historical artifacts. Eve was there when this significant event took place.

The story moves back and forth in time. In the present, it is the 1970s and Eve has suffered a number of strokes. Full credit to Ms. Paul for her sensitivity and ability to make readers feel the difficult impact that these had on Eve.

In the past, Eve grows up, is a debutante, meets Borograve and follows her interest in archaeology and lives her life. She has friends, children and a world around her.

The two narratives converge when Ana wants to interview Eve. She is tasked with understanding the events at the time that the tomb was found. Eve knows something important and will have to decide whether to reveal this.

I very much enjoyed this novel. It is leisurely paced, has well developed characters and lets readers witness a significant discovery. Readers will feel the heat of the sun and visualize the landscape of Egypt.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this absorbing historical novel. All opinions are my own.

A Novel

by Ann Mah

#JacquelineinParis #NetGalley

Jacqueline Kennedy was one of the world’s most well-known and iconic women. Her life has been well documented for sure. However, in this title, Ms. Mah, recalls and imagines an earlier time in Jacqueline’s life, long before she was a Kennedy. Here, she is a young girl, a Vassar student, on a junior year abroad in Paris.

In the author’s imagination, Jacqueline had to fight to get to Paris. Her mother and stepfather needed to be persuaded to let her go. Jacqueline’s mother’s goal for her daughter was a good marriage. When she finally agreed, it was with caveats regarding some young men that her daughter should meet. J’s mother also makes special arrangements for J to live with an aristocratic family, not in a dorm.

The book opens as J is arriving in France and follows her experiences and growth. In an early chapter, J is brought up against the reality of the Bouviers and how the family was not so well established as she had been led to believe. This exemplifies the ways in which time away from home leads to new understandings and perspectives.

Readers follow Jackie in a post war France that is still recovering. They make their way around the city with J and, such is the author’s talent, they feel that they could be there. In addition, readers follow the stories of those with whom Jackie comes in contact, including the family with whom she lives, the aristocratic Paul and some purported Communists, to round things out.

Fans of historical fiction are pretty certain to enjoy this novel.

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

Pub date: 27 September 2022

PRICE	$27.99 (USD) Hardback
PAGES	352

#GettheWigglesOut #NetGalley

This book offers such a reassuring message to kids and that is that it is safe to feel whatever you are feeling. There are twelve feelings in all in these pages, as for example, surprise, nervousness, being excited, feeling sad and more. Each of these emotions is described. For example, the authors note that one is nervous when they are not sure about something.

In addition this title includes many suggestions about things to do when a particular emotion arises. For example, distraction can be used, or movement, or breathing. Kids are invited to try each.

I love that this title features the familiar Sesame Street characters. The vibrant illustrations really invite kids in.

I think that it could be helpful for young children to read this book with a trusted adult. They can then talk about and practice some of these techniques.

All in all, a terrific book for kids.

Many thanks to Mayo Clinic Press Kids and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 14 April 2026

Description

Big feelings? Wiggly bodies? Let’s move through it―together!

From nervous wiggles to excited jumps, this playful and empowering picture book helps kids recognize, understand, and manage their feelings―one movement at a time. Whether it’s Elmo feeling nervous at the doctor’s office or Abby bursting with excitement at the library, Get the Wiggles Out shows that there are fun, simple ways to handle every emotion. With expert guidance from Mayo Clinic pediatric psychologist Dr. Emily McTate and beloved Sesame Street friends, children learn how to calm their bodies, express their feelings, and get back to doing what they love.

Featuring vibrant illustrations, engaging activities, and a warm, reassuring tone, this book is perfect for:

• Helping young readers build emotional awareness and resilience
• Supporting social-emotional learning at home, in classrooms, or in therapy
• Encouraging movement-based techniques to manage big feelings

Whether kids feel shy, overwhelmed, or just need to shake it out, Get the Wiggles Out is a joyful reminder that every feeling is safe to feel―and every child has the tools to handle it.

Everyday Feelings with Sesame Street invites children to explore feelings with the help of their favorite Sesame Street friends. Combining fun narratives with expert guidance from Mayo Clinic pediatric psychologist Dr. Emily McTate, each adventure offers practical strategies to support every child’s emotional well-being.

Mayo Clinic Press Kids creates empowering health and wellness content in partnership with pediatric experts. Proceeds from the sale of every book go to benefit important medical research and education at Mayo Clinic.

An e book bargain

#MrsChristieattheMysteryGuildLibrary #NetGalley

My thoughts:

Those who enjoy cozy mysteries, are fans of Agatha Christie, are willing to suspend disbelief, enjoy lots of book references, enjoy accurate NYC locations, a murder and a good, fun plot will rush to buy Chapman’s novel. I very much enjoyed it.

I loved the setting. Chapman has created a special library that features a replica of Christie’s own library at Greenway. I wanted to go to this (imaginary) library set on Washington Square and spend the day. Glad I could do so virtually.

Protagonist, Tory has inherited the running of the library from her grandmother. She also is a book restorer. Tory has eccentric relatives, including her cousin Nic. Nic leads to Tory right into suspicious events and murder(s).

Speaking of eccentricity, how is it that Mrs. Mallowan (you should know who she is) is found sitting in the library? She very much wants to be involved in the events of this story.

Some suspension of disbelief is required but do this and there is much to enjoy here. I look forward to what comes next for this author.

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

Pub date: 26 August 2025

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews:

Reviews

“The first in a new series that I know is going to be a delight. Clever, funny, sharp, surprising — Amanda Chapman delivers!”

– Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of City of Girls and Eat, Pray, Love

“Amanda Chapman’s Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library has everything a reader could want in a mystery, including the (possible) ghost of Agatha Christie, the queen of puzzle solvers. Add a whopping good mystery, engaging characters, a little romance, glamorous New York, and you have the perfect cocktail. It’s a sparkling, witty gem with heart, and I can’t wait for the next installment!”

– Deborah Crombie, McCavity Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Scotland Yard mysteries.

“Chapman intrigues and delights with this twisty and funny must-read tale featuring (it appears!) the Queen of Crime herself. Narrator Tory Van Dyne is at first mystified by Mrs. Christie but ends up marveling at how she unravels myriad clues to solve two homicides. Prepare to lose sleep — you won’t want to put this book down.”

– Maddie Day, Agatha Award-winning author of Scone Cold Dead and Murder at Cape Costumers


“Witty, twisty, and utterly enthralling, Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library pays homage to Dame Agatha and is a love song to New York City. I fell in love with the Mystery Guild Library and can’t wait to pay it another visit!”

– Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author and Agatha Award winner

“Chapman has a blast with her contemporary New York setting, resettling British mystery tropes among Manhattan’s rare books community, theatrical circles, and eccentric Upper East Siders. Uncovering a killer, it turns out, can be just as fun in the Big Apple as it is in St. Mary Mead. Fans of classic detective fiction are in for a treat.”

– Publisher’s Weekly starred review

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/02/16/books/review/revolutionary-reads-quiz.html

#TheWomanontheLedge #NetGalley

By now readers know that a book whose title includes the words ”The Girl” or “The Woman” is going to find a complex, twisty story where it is hard to know who to believe and exactly what happened. That is certainly the case in Mancini’s page turner. Mancini is a British criminal defense attorney so keep an eye on the lawyer in the story.

It starts with a holiday party. A woman who works as a temp goes to this party where, by the way, her married lover also works. When she goes out on the roof for some air, she finds said woman on the ledge. She is threatening to jump. Tate talks the woman, who says her name is Helen, down. Things get increasingly complicated when Helen seeks Tate’s help the very next day. She says that she lost an earring at the party and convinces Tate to return to the London high rise building.

Horrifically a woman dies. Tate is arrested. Helen can’t be found. Was she really named Helen? Stories come and go. As is the case in these novels, that the reader does not know what to make of events and who to believe. Pages turn as readers seek answers.

I first heard about this novel in a British magazine and knew that I wanted to read it. You might want to as well.

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

Pub date: 16 January 2024

An e book bargain

I have been a huge fan of this series since the first, In the Bleak Midwinter, was published over twenty years ago. In that time, I have become very attached to Clare, Russ, Hadley, Keven and so many other folks who live in Millers Kill. Watching them grow and seeing their relationships evolve has been such a pleasure.

That said, this time I do feel that I need to issue a warning. In these pages, readers will find racism against Asians and Native Americans, anti-Semitism, domestic violence and many unlikable people. Know that all will be okay in the end but that this book may not be for everyone. It is the kind of read where one has to trust the author in order to keep going.

I admire Spencer Fleming for taking on incredibly relevant issues in these pages. The way that they juxtapose with the Christmas season backdrop shows both the worst and the most hopeful that there is.

This is another very strong entry in a strong series.

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

Pub date: 18 November 2025

Post first published on 22 December 2025

Description:

from the publisher

THE INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

“Spencer-Fleming, in her most masterly turn yet, mixes heart-stopping action with deep empathy for her characters.” – Sarah Weinman, New York Times Book Review

New York Times bestseller Julia Spencer-Fleming returns to her beloved Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series

It’s Christmas time in Millers Kill, and Reverend Clare Fergusson and her husband Russ van Alstyne – newly resigned from his position as chief of police – plan to enjoy it with their baby boy. On their list: visiting Santa, decorating the tree, and attending the church Christmas pageant. But when a beloved holiday parade is crashed by white supremacists, Clare and Russ find themselves sucked into a parallel world of militias, machinations and murder.

Meanwhile, single mom and officer Hadley Knox has her hands full juggling her kids and her police work. She doesn’t want to worry about her former partner – and sometimes lover – Kevin Flynn, but when he takes leave from the Syracuse PD and disappears, she can’t help her growing panic that something has gone very wrong.
Novice lawyer Joy Zhào is keeping secrets from her superiors at the state Attorney General’s Office. She knows they wouldn’t condone her off-the-books investigation, but she’s convinced a threatening alt-right conspiracy is brewing – and catching the perpetrators could jump start her career.

NYS Forest Ranger Paul Terrance is looking for his uncle, a veteran of the park service gone inexplicably missing. He doesn’t think much of an ex-cop and out-of-town officer showing up in his patch of the woods, but he’s heard the disturbing rumors of dangerous men in the mountains.

In New York Times Julia Spencer-Fleming’s latest novel, as Christmas approaches, these five people will discover their suspicions hang on a single twisting thread, leading to the forbidding High Peaks of the Adirondacks. As the December days shorten and the nights grow long, a disparate group of would-be heroes need to unwind a murderous plot before time runs out.

From the Publisher:

About the Author:

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING is the New York Times bestselling author of One Was a Soldier, and an Agatha, Anthony, Dilys, Barry, Macavity, and Gumshoe Award winner. She studied acting and history at Ithaca College and received her J.D. at the University of Maine School of Law. Her books have been shortlisted for the Edgar, Nero Wolfe, and Romantic Times RC awards. Julia lives in a 190-year-old farmhouse in southern Maine.-

About the Book: 

from the publisher

After a decades-long stint in prison, former serial killer Carol is looking to kick back and relax in her new retirement home…until a fellow resident drops dead and Carol has to prove she actually didn’t do it this time…. 

Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She’s hoping her past as a serial killer won’t come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it’s not long before a fellow resident—who happens to be a former police commissioner—drops dead, and Carol’s true identity is leaked—making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward.  
 
Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn’t the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks—it’s filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol’s guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong…without killing anyone, for once. 

About the Author: 

As well as an author, Fergus is a multi-award-winning actor, comedian and writer for television. I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home is his third novel. He lives in London. 

More:

from the publisher

A sharp, laugh-out-loud whodunit with surprising heart, the novel follows Carol—a former serial killer newly released from prison—who just wants a quiet life in a luxury retirement home. Unfortunately, when a fellow resident turns up dead and Carol’s past is exposed, she must solve the murder to prove she didn’t do it this time… all while living among former cops, barristers, and government officials who are very sure she did.

I’M NOT THE ONLY MURDERER IN MY RETIREMENT HOME has already earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus and was selected as AARP’s “27 of Winter’s Best New Books.” With its blend of warmth, wit, and wicked humor, it’s perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Killers of a Certain Age, and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.

My thoughts:

I’ve only just begun this one but feel certain that it will be an enjoyable read with a mix of plot and humor. The premise feels original and offers a new variety of a murder set within a small community.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the invitation to the blog tour and to NetGalley as well. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 17 February 2026