#TheSeaStoneSisters #NetGalley I have been looking for a book like The Sea Stone Sisters for quite some time. I was wanting to read a novel that …
The Sea Stone Sisters by Eleanor Buchanan
Podcast
I just tried using this WordPress feature and would love to know readers’ reactions. Is this a good idea or not? I hope for a few comments. Thanks.
Joyce
Podcast Episode: The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood
Pip: There's a small town in England where the murder rate would alarm any serious urban planner — and somehow three amateur sleuths keep showing up to fix that.
Mara: That's the world joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews is reviewing today, with a new entry in a cozy crime series that layers a very personal mystery underneath the main investigation.
Pip: Let's start with what's happening in Marlow.
The Marlow Murder Club Returns
Mara: The question this book poses is double-edged — there's the public crime and then there's the private one, and both are pressing on Judith at the same time.
Pip: The publisher's description puts it plainly: "Two dead celebrities. One village full of secrets. Someone is killing celebrities in Marlow. First, it's a famous soccer player. Then, a bestselling thriller writer."
Mara: So the main plot is a blackmail-and-scandal web connecting two very public deaths, and the trio has to untangle it without their usual police contact — DI Malik is suspended, which removes a key resource exactly when the case gets complicated.
Pip: For a quiet riverside town, Marlow does have what you might call an overactive homicide calendar.
Mara: The review actually names that directly, comparing Marlow's crime density to Christie's St. Mary Mead — the observation being that small, pretty places in this genre carry an outsize number of murders, and that's part of the cozy contract the reader accepts.
Pip: And layered under the celebrity killings is something more personal — Judith's past is resurfacing through a daughter her late ex-husband had with someone else, who is now making accusations about what Judith may or may not have done.
Mara: That subplot carries over from book four, so readers who've followed the series will arrive with context, but the review suggests new readers will find the question compelling enough on its own: did Judith do something unforgivable, and what really happened?
Pip: It's the kind of thread that makes you pick up the earlier books after finishing this one, which is either a feature or a trap depending on your reading queue.
Mara: The review closes warmly — a genuine hope that Thorogood continues the series, which is about as clear a recommendation as a book review can offer.
Pip: Cozy crime keeps finding new ways to make small places feel dangerous.
Mara: And personal history keeps finding ways to complicate even the most public investigations. More to come next time.
The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood
This is the fifth title to feature the Marlow, amateur detectives Becks, Suzie and, of course, Judith. I have read all of them and also have watched the TV series. Now, I have just read book 5 which I enjoyed.
Book 5 picks up where book 4 ended. This means that there is a subplot about Judith and her ex husband who reportedly died from drowning. Judith’s husband had a daughter with someone else. This d.aughter is making accusations against Judith. Did Judith do something unforgivable? What did really happen? Those who have read the earlier books will want to know, as will some new to the series.
Around this, there are once again too many murders in Marlow. For a small, pretty place, it has an outsize number of crimes, maybe a bit like in Christie’s St. Mary Mead.
Celebrities have been killed. Why? Is there a common thread? Of course, the intrepid threesome will do their best to find out.
I look forward to a new book in this series and hope Thorogood will give this to readers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 07 July 2026
Post first published on 22 May 2026
About the book:
from the publisher
Description
“Fiendishly clever!” – Kirkus reviews
The new cozy crime novel from the bestselling author of The Marlow Murder Club, now a major TV series on PBS Masterpiece!
Two dead celebrities. One village full of secrets.
Someone is killing celebrities in Marlow. First, it’s a famous soccer player. Then, a bestselling thriller writer. When two shocking deaths rock their quiet riverside town, Judith, Suzie, and Becks—the unstoppable Marlow Murder Club—must untangle a dangerous web of blackmail and scandal to catch a killer.
But with their trusted police ally DI Malik suddenly suspended, and Judith’s own past threatening to resurface, the women are on their own. Suspects are multiplying like tabloid headlines, secrets are stacking up, and time is running out.
Can the Marlow Murder Club crack the case before the killer strikes again—or will this be the end of their crime-solving adventures?
From the Publisher:
Today
So, today I saw this award from WordPress.
It indicates that by blog has been read in over 150 countries.
I could not add this to my widgets so asked for tech help. Hopefully all will be fixed but right now I have no widgets at all. I miss them, especially the one for 100k plus views as it means a lot to me that readers spend time with my posts. Will see where this goes.
Buzz Books Fall Winter 2026
Here are over 1400 pages of reading joy. Plus, this title is free for e readers.
I have been reading Buzz Books compendiums for more than five years. I love them as they are such a terrific resource for those who want to know about upcoming titles.
There is so much in here. A number of forthcoming books have generous samples. In addition, there are listings in so many categories. In fiction, there are debuts, literary fiction, commercial fiction and more. The non-fiction section is broken down by topics, every thing from biographies to current events to history and many others.
I rate this resource most highly.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Publishers Marketplace-Buzz Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 19 May 2026
Description:
from the publisher
Dive into Fall/Winter 2026’s shiniest releases, curated by industry insider Publishers Marketplace to showcase both established voices and emerging talents across Debut, Fiction, Nonfiction, and YA categories. At the end of most excerpts, you will find a link to download or request the full galley—exclusive to the NetGalley edition!
Whether you are in the book industry or not, Buzz Books is the best way to sample a selection of some of the most buzz-worthy titles coming soon. Buzz Books Fall/Winter 2026 presents a cornucopia of deluxe excerpts, with new work from Freida McFadden, Eric Idle, Wayétu Moore, Elizabeth Alexander, Chloe Benjamin, and many more!
Scrolling through these digital pages, you will find extracts of new titles from the sumptuous South Asian romance by Uzma Jalaluddin, Dina Gets Lucky, to Chad Harbach’s much-anticipated follow-up, The Brightness, to a revelatory history of white Christian womanhood in the US, Live Laugh Love by Kristin Kobes Du Mez. There’s campy body horror from the star of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City Heather Gay, a novella from the creator of Welcome to Night Vale Joseph Fink, literary fiction from juggernauts Louise Kennedy and Lydia Millet, and if the list went any longer we’d be writing a whole new book ourselves. Trust us here: the good stuff’s on the inside.
Buzz Books is our love letter to the books and reading community we adore, and we are glad you are part of building the buzz for great books.
Quiz
Now out-The Night Bus by Tessa Bickers
I liked the first book that I read by Tessa Bickers so was delighted to receive an early copy of this title. Once again, this author has written a book that was easy to read and enjoy.
Not everyone may feel that getting up before dawn is something to be lauded. However both Daisy and Tom are generally out on the bus before daylight, and each finds this time before London fully awakens for the day to be special.
Daisy is on her way to her job as an entertainment reporter. Tom is trying to get over his heartbreak and wants to be out of his flat. There he is on the bus, always reading Orlando by Virginia Woolf while Daisy is generally scrolling on her phone. When they get off the bus one day, and Daisy is threatened, Tom comes to her rescue and the two talk as Tom walks Daisy to her job.
From this beginning, Daisy and Tom find things to offer one another. Daisy will comb Orlando to try to figure out why the book was so important to Tom’s ex and if this book led to their breakup. For his part, Tom offers to photograph Daisy’s upcoming wedding.
There is a problem however, as it is possible that neither should really be with the ones that they were with. How will things play out? Will Daisy and Tom find their way to one another? Find out in these pages.
Tessa Bickers offers a good read here.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 19 May 2026
Post first published on 10 April 2026
Description:
from the publisher
One book. Two strangers. An unforgettable journey as they rewrite the ending.
Daisy Douglas has spent her life behind the scenes: at work, in her relationships, and now, in planning a wedding she isn’t sure she even wants. As an entertainment journalist, she can spot the start of a story a mile away. So when her routine 4 a.m. bus ride to the newsroom takes a surprising turn, she notices.
For months, the same man has boarded at the same stop, reading the same tattered copy of Virginia Woolf’s Orlando over and over as if his life depends on it. When a broken-down bus and a shared walk through the quiet early-morning London streets finally throws them together, Tom reveals the heartbreaking truth as to why he can’t be without his novel.
Determined to help him find the answer to the riddle hidden in its pages, Daisy joins Tom on his strange literary quest—one that leads them to places neither of them ever expected. But as their friendship deepens, she starts to wonder if what they’re both looking for might not be in the book after all.
From the Publisher:
Spotlight on: Sweet Serendipity by Rachel Linden
Many thanks to everyone at Berkley for the invitation to this blog tour. I really enjoyed the book. (See below for more)
From the publisher:
A tantalizing novel about a struggling chocolatier who is granted a magical vision of the future of her dreams, only to realize that her heart may desire something else entirely, from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.
Paris trained chocolatier and single mother Emmie Wynne gave up her own dreams six years ago when she returned to her Pacific Northwest coastal tourist town to run her family’s struggling candy store. Now on her thirty-fourth birthday, Emmie has only one wish, to be granted the vision that every Wynne woman is given once in her lifetime—a shimmering glimpse of her true destiny. This year, when she blows out her candles, it finally comes true.
Her vision is more delectable than she could’ve imagined—her very own artisanal chocolate shop filled with decadent truffles and caramels, and her celebrity crush, Henry Summers, down on one knee. And when Henry suddenly arrives in town for the summer, offering Emmie the opportunity of a lifetime, the future in her vision suddenly seems possible.
But a rekindled connection with Jakob, her former high school best friend turned hunky, brooding tattooed baker, forces Emmie to grapple with the bittersweet realization that her destiny may not be what her heart truly longs for. As the culmination of her vision draws nearer, can Emmie find the courage to create a happiness of her own making?
From the Publisher:
Editorial Reviews:
“Heartfelt, heartwarming, joyful, and uplifting. You can’t go wrong with a Rachel Linden book.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber
“Perfect for fans of Hallmark movies. With a couple that fans will root for, along with supporting characters that add depth and charm to the novel, it’s a great read for a cozy afternoon.”—Library Journal
The author:
Rachel Mae Linden (who also writes as Rachel Linden) is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures in over fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her writing. She is the author of Recipe for a Charmed Life, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, and several other novels. Currently Rachel lives with her family on a sweet little island near Seattle, WA where she enjoys creating stories about hope, courage and connection with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy.
To learn more about Rachel Linden, visit her website or find her on Facebook or Instagram
My review:
Sometimes the right book just comes along when it is needed. Maybe that is part of the magic of this author’s books. This was a comfort read exactly when I needed one. It is perfect for when a non-stressful read is wanted.
Emmie has returned home from a burgeoning career as a chocolate maker in Europe because her family needs her help. Emmie takes over her parents’ fudge shop, emotionally supports her mother who has a chronic health problem, and does her very best to care for her young son. She literally (and metaphorically) has a lot on her plate.
Emmie is surrounded by many others, perhaps most importantly Jakob whom she dated in high school. Also key is Henry whose TV show Emmie regularly watches. Imagine her surprise when Henry comes to her town for the summer.
Linden usually puts a bit of magic in her books. Here she inserts a special candle that tells the women of Emmie’s family their future. Will what she sees be what Emmie wants? Is there any room for interpretation?
The setting in a small Pacific Coast town with Norwegian roots (that really exists!) is lovingly described. I could so easily picture the Main Street and its’ shops.
Linden very talks about the importance of finding what a person wants in life. This is a very valid message but I think could perhaps have used a tad lighter touch.
Those who enjoy small towns, romance, stories about family and friends, and, of course, chocolate will want to pick up this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
The Shetland Night Killings by Marsali Taylor
Every once in a while I come across a new series that offers good reads. Such is the case with the books written by Marsali Taylor. These novels will, I think, appeal to anyone who has enjoyed Ann Cleeves’s Jimmy Perez series.
As is true for Cleeves, Taylor’s books wonderfully evoke Shetland’s towns, islands and waterways. There are characters and relationships to follow from one title to the next. The main character is Cass. She loves to sail and be on the water. She has a complex backstory which will keep readers interested. A police inspector named Gavin and the Scandinavian Anders are two important men in her life.
In this third entry, a young woman named Annette has been killed. Will she be the last victim? Read the book to find out. Cass will be very involved as readers wait for justice to be served.
This book has a lot about witchcraft in it. This is not something that featured in the first two titles but it is germane to the plot. This wasn’t my favorite topic but I will always follow Cass so I kept reading.
I definitely recommend this book and this series. I think that there are twelve entries in all.
Note that right now, the first book, Death on a Shetland Longship is just $2.99 as an e-book.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 