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

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.

Previous Dagger Awards

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.

Previous Shamus Awards

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.

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

From the Publisher:

#MakingSenseofLife #NetGalley

194 pages

Self-help

Pub date: 30 June 2026

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Post first published on 11 July 2026

My thoughts:

When I took high school physics, I never for a moment thought that it would help me to understand life. Yet this is where Cai looked for understanding while in school and business. I was intrigued to see how he could get from a science like physics to a self-help book. Somehow he did it. The result is in the pages of this interesting title.

Cai suggests in the introduction that breaking the big concepts and questions into more manageable bites can be helpful. He thinks that one way to do this is to look on the level of one’s own life. This is just one of many interesting and helpful ideas that he puts forward.

In the chapters that follow, Cai looks at life at different stages. Of course, these overlap so readers may find wisdom in places that do not reflect their chronological age.

This book is written in an accessible style. It left me with much to ponder. While there are many self-help books, this may indeed be another to add to readers’ shelves.

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

Description:

from the publisher

Why are we here? What makes a life well-lived? And how can we know what matters—truly—for ourselves?

In Making Sense of Life, physics PhD and entrepreneur Dr. Simin Cai presents a rational, structured approach to life’s biggest questions. Drawing from science, philosophy, and personal experience, he helps readers develop their own “theory of life”—a consistent, personal framework for happiness, clarity, and fulfillment.

Instead of offering one-size-fits-all answers, Cai encourages readers to ask better questions: What do I value? What assumptions shape my thinking? How can I define a life worth living for me?

With examples across youth, adulthood, and elderhood, Making Sense of Life is an honest, intelligent alternative to superficial self-help. It’s for readers who want depth over hype, logic over slogans, and a framework that evolves with them. It’s a must-read for anyone who values reason, clarity, and practical insight over feel-good slogans.

From the Publisher:

About the Author

DR. SIMIN CAI is a physics PhD, entrepreneur, and the founder of Go!Foton, a global technology company specializing in optics and photonics. With over thirty years of experience in the field, he has led innovations in commercializing optical communications and medical device technologies while serving leading clients across North America, Asia, and Europe. Prior to launching Go!Foton, he held executive positions at NSG America and contributed to the early formation of Avanex. Dr. Cai had also served in leadership roles at OPTICA (formerly The Optical Society), including on its Board and Finance Council. He holds degrees in Applied Physics, Engineering Optics, and a Ph.D. in Physics from Stevens Institute of Technology.

I have enjoyed other novels by Eliza Knight including The Mayfair Bookshop and The Queen’s Faithful Companion. So, when I see her name on a book cover, I am excited.

This time, Knight explores the world of publishing in the early 1960s. To say that women were not highly valued for their skills is an understatement.

As this story opens, Bernadette is working on editorial tasks but is not respected for this. Rather, she is asked to bring her boss’s dirty laundry to the cleaner. Understandably, Bernadette does not appreciate this and wants more. Will she succeed? Will friends that she makes at the New York Public Library help her? Find out in this enjoyable read that also features a likeable editor who has fallen for Bernadette. I recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date:10 June 2025

From the Publisher