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

The romance novel about book lovers and for book lovers – uplifting, moving, and full of love

by Tessa Bickers

#TheBookSwap #NetGalley

The Book Swap was a delight to read. I very much enjoyed this story of two characters who got to know one another (even) better through sharing their thoughts about books and life. The device that the author uses is to have them each taking books from a little free community library and writing to one another in the margins. I found that I was always looking forward to see which book these two would be reading next; maybe this reflects the eagerness that they had as well.

Readers meet Erin. She has faced a great loss and has a unique way of coping (find out in the book). In a scene that many readers may envy, she quits her toxic work place despite not knowing what she will do next. Readers follow as she figures this out with a therapist sister often voicing her opinions.

James has his own difficulties. His mother suffers from mental illness and he periodically spends stretches of time with his parents to help out. James has a job that he does not love. What will he do about this?

Bonnie…well, read the book to find out who she is and what her role in the story is.

No spoilers so don’t want to go into how these characters intersect.

This book is not entirely light in nature but it is a consistently good read. I was always happy to settle down and spend time in the world of these characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 03 September 2024

From the Publisher

This title is the third and last novel that Horowitz is writing about Atticus Pund and Susan Ryeland. It is a corker written by an author who, I think, is just the teeniest bit smug about his talent and expansive knowledge of publishing and other aspects of modern life.

Anyone who has not read The Magpie Murders can read this novel but there are definitely many aspects of that story that are revealed in this one. It may be best to read the series in order or at least catch up on events via the PBS series.

Susan Ryeland is back in England with her trusty MG. She is freelancing and hoping for a more permanent position as an editor when she is invited/lured into working with Eliot Crace. He is writing an entry in the Atticus Pund series, continuing what the original author (SPOILER! and murder victim) had begun.

As is true of others in the series, there is a story in the present (that has roots in the past) along with the manuscript of the new Pund novel. I love how authentic this looks with Horowitz making this look just like others that I have received from Harper Collins. It is quite clever.

It begins to appear that Eliot’s book may be a bit too closely related to his take on events in his family. Where will this lead? Nothing else here so that there will be no spoilers.

Suffice it to say that this read is immersive, long, filled with numerous characters and plots, clever and perhaps a modern classic.

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

Pub date: 13 May 2025

Mystery & Thriller

592 pages

From the Publisher

by Colleen Cambridge

An e book bargain

#AFashionablyFrenchMurder #NetGalley

The American in Paris mysteries are so enjoyable. The sleuths in this three book, post WWII, series are Julia Child and her fictional friend Tabitha. Both enjoy living in Paris with its markets, neighborhoods, foods and more to explore. These settings are delightfully described.

Of course, Julia is learning to cook and makes sublime meals. She also tries to help Tabitha achieve some culinary mastery. Julia cooks for her husband Paul in a marriage that comes across as strong and supportive. Tabitha cooks for her grandfather and uncle; the latter is not her relation but is in a relationship with Tabitha’s grandfather.

This time the murder mystery takes place in the world of haute couture. I loved this setting and learned a lot about French fashion during the time period. Readers may be startled to know that Madame Lannet’s close friend thinks that the murder was committed by Christian Dior. Mon Dieu! And, there will be more than one murder.

Tabitha and Julia are on the case. Readers of the series will be happy to welcome them and the regulars back to print. Some will wonder if Tabitha will finally have her romance with a certain detective. Qui sait?

This book is one that it is easy to recommend. I very much enjoyed it and hope that the series will have a long life.

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

Pub date: 29 April 2025

272 pages

Historical fiction-Mystery & Thrillers

From the Publisher

Others in the series:

Delightful: Mastering the Art of French Murder

It is indeed: A Murder Most French (Colleen Cambridge)

An e book bargain

Caroline Quentin is best known to me as an actress. I watched her in Blue Murder where she played a somewhat frazzled (in her home life) detective. Now, I know her as an author and lover of nature as well..

This is a delightful book with whimsical illustrations done by Quentin herself. I smiled when I saw the front and back views of her in a gardening apron near the beginning of the book.

I love Quentin’s candid and open voice as she tells her stories. In these pages are personal reflections, practical advice and recipes. Readers will find warmth, wisdom and humor here. as she writes of the experience of gardening and of life. 

Sample chapters include Memories, Wellbeing, Pets & pests, Childhood and more. Dip in anywhere or start at the beginning.

I highly recommend this book. I will buy the hard copy when it is released.

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

Pub date: 23 April 2024

#DrawntotheGarden #NetGalle

An e book bargain

#OtherPeoplesHouses #NetGalley

I was lucky enough to hear Clare Mackintosh speak not long after I had read the first book in her Ffion Morgan series. That was an enjoyable experience.

I have since read books 2 and 3 in the series with the third one being Other People’s Houses. I was delighted to spend time in Ffion’s world again, both professionally and in her off duty life.

Mackintosh has created a number of series characters whom I was happy to again see. These include Ffion’s former husband, her new love and his son, her daughter, her mother and, of course her dog. He is a handful.

Ffion is an officer in Wales while Leo, her boyfriend, works with the English police. Their cases often overlap as they do here.

Leo has been investigating a number of break ins in a wealthy enclave. As it turns out, his former wife does not live there but is close by and is trying to ingratiate herself with her upscale neighbors. Meanwhile, there has been a murder in Wales of a female realtor. Readers will observe as the cases intersect.

Readers will also follow a crime podcast of a cold case. Will this become relevant to Leo and Ffion’s case?

I highly recommend this series. The settings are well done, the characters are interesting, readers will hope that Ffion and Leo can keep their relationship going and the snarky bits are fun.

Recommended to fans of Welsh and English crime, those who like series and those who enjoy a good crime story. Publishers Weekly states that “…mystery readers of all stripes will find something to like.”

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

Pub date: 16 September 2025

Another in the series:

Observe: A Game of Lies (Clare Mackintosh)

Another book by the author:

Fasten your seatbelts: Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

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

#TheArtsTrailKiller #NetGalley

I think that Emylia Hall’s excellent series does not garner the attention that it deserves. I have found every title in the Shell House Detective books to be enjoyable.

The stories are set in Cornwall with the area brought to life in a way that lets me recall past time there and leaves me wishing that I could go back.

The Shell House Detectives are Ally and Jayden. Ally’s husband Bill was a local police officer who has died by the time that the series begins. She becomes close to a divorced writer, Guy, in the earlier books. Jayden stands out in the community where most people are white. He is married and at the time that this story begins, his second child has just been born. As a side note, credit to the author for acknowledging how difficult the days of parenting a newborn can be. Ally and Jayden began solving cases (of course) in the first of the series.

As this story begins, an arts festival is about to start. A famous artist has returned to be the guest of honor. Interestingly, he does not seem to bring his best work. He does bring an art dealer, semi significant other who (no spoiler because it happens early in the novel), is murdered. Was she the intended victim? Will there be other deaths? Is the graffiti that is popping up related to the murder? These are just some of the questions requiring answers in the story.

There are many characters to follow. The story line is involving.

Of interest to those who have followed Ally and Gus, a man from Ally’s past has arrived for the festival. Will he and Ally rekindle their relationship? What has brought him back?

This book is about 400 pages long which I loved as I was happy to remain in the company of these characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this book. All opinions are my onw.

Note: The e book costs under $5.00 which amazes me

Pub date: 08 April 2025

The audio book:

I toggled between reading and listening as I often do. Listening while I exercise makes the time so much more enjoyable.

The narrator here is spot on…easy to understand, able to speak in the voices of the different characters and able to bring the story to life.

Really well done!

Thanks to NetGalley and the audio publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the publisher:

Some of the earlier books in the series:

The suspects abound: The Rockpool Murder

The Harbour Lights Mystery (Emylia Hall)

I enjoyed spending time with: The Shell House Detectives (Emylia Hall)

#TheShellHouseDetectives #NetGalley

This is the first in, what appear to be, at least three Cornwall set mysteries featuring two characters with complex pasts. They are Ally and Jayden. Ally was widowed and misses her police officer husband deeply. Her daughter would like Ally to leave Cornwall to be with her in Australia; Ally is very ambivalent. Ally is an artist who creates works from the detritus that she finds on the beach. (She makes a relevant find there).

Jayden worked as a police officer who left the force after a tragedy. He is biracial and not sure if he fits into his wife’s community. Both of these characters are trying to keep their lives moving forward. Will solving a case help them to achieve their goals?

Ally’s husband Bill was haunted by one person’s death. When he arrested this man’s son, Bill offered to help him in the future. When this young man comes knocking on Ally’s door, she (regretfully) turns him away.

Events move forward and this young man is now in the hospital, gravely wounded. His grandmother and only support was not there for him when he got out of prison. Lewis Pascoe has an interaction with the couple that built a new home where his grandmother had been. These events set the scene for the novel.

I enjoyed the main characters in this book and was also interested to meet the people around them. There are many community members in the story so there is no lack of suspects. For example, there is the coffee shop worker and a recently divorced man who is trying to write a novel.

In addition to the mystery and the characters, Cornwall is also a strong presence in the book. Readers will be able to smell the sea, see the cliffs and walk along the shore.

All in all, this was a most enjoyable read. I recommend it to anyone who likes cozy mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 01 July 2023

Readers will so enjoy meeting Nora Breen, the former nun, who serves as the amateur investigator in this 1950s set novel. Formerly Sister Agnes, she has left the convent after many years to take up residence at Gulls Nest. Nora has chosen this location because someone close to her, who had been living there, is missing. Did Frieda meet with foul play? Nora fears so as Frieda had promised to write weekly and her letters have stopped.

At Gulls Nest Nora meets quite an assortment of characters. There is the woman who owns the boarding house and her daughter, Dinah, who does not speak. The reader never knows where she will be found. There are also the housekeeper (an awful cook) and Rose, who both work there, and then, of course, the boarders. These include a couple Teddy and Stella, a puppeteer and performer called Professor Poppy, the mysterious Karel, and others. On the side of the law is Rideout who engages in much verbal play with Nora.

The story becomes more intricate when someone is found murdered. This is not Frieda but, no spoiler, so I won’t say who. What else will happen? Will order be restored?

Nora is outspoken and sometimes brash (she throws a shoe at an unresponsive officer in the police station). She is also determined, bright and a keen observer with whom I loved spending time.

This is a terrific mystery and one that it is easy to recommend. I eagerly await Nora and Rideout’s next appearance.

Kirkus Reviews notes: “A delightful series kickoff in a cozy community primed for more murder.”

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

Pub date: 08 April 2025

336 pages

Mystery & Thrillers

From the Publisher

July 2026 Prepub Alert: forthcoming titles to know, share, and buy; plus a downloadable spreadsheet of all the titles and an Edelweiss catalog with plot summaries, author profiles, and more.
— Read on www.libraryjournal.com/story/Prepub-Alert-July-2026-Titles