This title for kids is about Baby Garfield’s firsts. Just some of these are his first word, hairball, lasagna, beach day, and bath. Each chapter tells a story in graphic/comic form.
I will be honest and say that this is not my type of humor. I think though that kids around ages ten to twelve or so will find it pretty funny.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boom! Studios for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Pub date: 03 November 2026
Description:
from the publisher
Meet the tiny troublemaker before he became the lasagna-loving legend in this accessible graphic novel anthology for young readers featuring a series of sweet and silly first milestones.
A baby’s big little moments are some of the most special and cherished experiences for doting parents—pet parents included! Join the sassy but oh-so-adorable baby Garfield in navigating a series of universal “firsts” like first word, first lasagna, first Monday, and the often overlooked, but just as moving milestone…first hairball!
Brimming with cattitude, this paw-sitively silly graphic novel anthology features eight standalone comics by a rotating cast of top-tier creators, including Ben Clanton (Narwhal & Jelly), Grace Ellis (Lumberjanes), Michael Northrop (Dear Justice League), and many more! Purrfect for Garfield-lovers, feline fanatics, young readers starting their comics journey, and graphic novel aficionados alike.
I love how the best historical fiction is both immersive and informative. That is certainly the case for Abbs’s debut novel, The Joyce Girl.
Many readers are familiar with the names of James and Nora Joyce, even if they have never successfully made it through one of Joyce’s novels. They may be less familiar with Joyce’s daughter, Lucia, the subject of this book. Lucia wanted to dance and worked very hard at her craft. However, her father’s need for her help as he lost his eyesight was also great.
What happened to Lucia? Where does her relationship with Beckett go? What is it like to be treated by Jung?
If these questions, characters and time period appeal to you, give The Joyce Girl a read.
Many thanks to NetGalley for this title . All opinions are my own.
Just as a narrowboat must travel at its own, somewhat measured pace, the timing of this novel is deliberate and thoughtful (in a good way). This is clearly a book to savor, not one to rush through. Readers will commit to the experience of enjoying some literary travel in an unhurried way.
The Narrowboat Summer tells the story of three women and those around them. The owner of the boat is Anastasia, an older woman who has lived on the canals. She needs a place to stay off of the water while she receives medical treatment. She comes to stay at Eve’s home.
Two women, previously unknown to one another, take on the task of ferrying Anastasia’s boat to its’ destination. One is Eve and the other is Sally, both of whom are seeking change and meaning in their lives.
As the two navigate and travel, they become closer to one another. They also meet a series of people on their literal journey and their voyages of self-discovery. These include an elderly man, a storyteller and others, all of whom have something to say and teach about life.
The stories of the characters are engaging and readers root for all of them as they seek the lives that they want (and deserve). Take the time to travel with them. You will enjoy the journey.
As a side note, I have always thought that it would be marvelous to travel along the British canal system. I still have not done that but this book did nothing to lessen my wish to do so.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
Odd Partners is a collection of mystery stories that is edited by one of my favorite authors, Anne Perry. The conceit for this anthology is a pairing in each story of odd partners; they are odd for many reasons as ably discussed in the editor’s introduction. Authors include Anne Perry, Jacqueline Winspear, Charles Todd, Jeffrey Deaver, Ace Atkins, Allison Brennan and others.
Admittedly, I often shy away from short stories preferring the depth of novels with their capacity to allow the reader to know characters more deeply. That having been said, I truly enjoyed this book. To give two examples:
In Anne Perry’s story, she conjures the atmosphere of WWI and the trenches, especially what it is like to be a sapper and to be a recruit who feels fear. I felt like I was there, uncomfortable, scared and eager for safety. All this within a short story. The odd partners are a German and an Englishman.
Jacqueline Winspear is known for her Maisie Dobbs novels. They are an excellent series of books which began during WWI and are now taking place in WWII. Does the author write a war story here? NO, she most emphatically does not. Here the odd partners are dogs and their humans.
There is much to enjoy in these stories. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review them. All opinions are my own.
Jo Callaghan’s first novel was easily one of my favorite crime stories of 2024. All of the elements that made me love that book are back in Leave No Trace, the second in this series. These include characters with depth (and backstory), a plot that keeps the pages turning, and the use of a unique sidekick to detective Kat Frank.
AIDE is an AI created detective. Through a hologram, he looks very real. His thoughts, although at times concrete because of a lack of understanding of nuance, are often key to the case. It has been enjoyable to watch the “relationship” between Kat and AIDE evolve. That is just one of the joys of the series.
This time, Kat has asked for a “live” as compared to historical case. The one that she is given is rather grim. A man has been found at the top of a local landmark and he has been gruesomely murdered. The case will lead to fear and warnings to young men.
Readers know that the case will be solved. The enjoyment is in watching how the team accomplishes this.
Kudos to the author. I am already eager for book three.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
A Twist in the River is the fourth book in Stig Abell’s series about a former London detective who now lives pretty much off the grid. I have enjoyed all four. The earlier titles are Death Under a Little Sky, Death in a Lonely Place and, The Burial Place. (the three earlier titles are reviewed on my blog).
A bit of background: a relative left Jake a property in the country. It is large enough that it has many physical features, all of which are named for fictional detective characters. For example, there are the Agatha (Christie) Wood and (Raymond) Chandler Lake and (Nero) Wolfe Orchard. Other literary and crime fiction references also appear in the book. Jake is meant to not use modern technology as a condition of having the property. He does listen to a lot of music though and readers will find a helpful playlist at the end of the story.
Now that he is in Book Four, there are many characters to get to know or to welcome back. There are Livia and her daughter, a local detective, Aletheia and Martha whom Jake knows from his former work in the police and many others.
This time, young women are being found dead in the water. What connects them? Were they murdered or could it have been accidental? (Readers can guess the answer). All is revealed in a long and satisfying good read that also has some subplots.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 23 June 2026 or 24 March 2026. The dates conflict but it is out now so the March date is probably correct.
Post first published on 11 May 2026.
Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
351 pages
Note: At the time of this posting, this title is available on Kindle Unlimited for those who subscribe.
Description:
from the publisher
Former London detective Jake Jackson finds his new life in the country threatened when women start disappearing in this beautifully written and deeply immersive novel that will challenge even the most diehard mystery lover’s deductive skills.
A beautiful summer’s day
When young nurse Claire Davidson goes missing on the riverbank, the only clues left behind are her phone and shoes.
A mystery that sweeps the nation
People disappear all the time, but this case sparks an online frenzy. Amateur investigators descend on the rural idyll. Everyone has a theory. Is Claire Davidson just the story of a swim that went wrong, or could there be truth to the conspiracies?
A killer growing bolder
But when another woman is discovered dead in the river, signs point to murder. Jake Jackson, a former detective who came to the countryside searching for peace, must investigate before more lives are taken.
Editorial Reviews and author info:
from Amazon
“A leisurely whodunit wrapped in a loving homage to the bucolic life.” ⎯ Kirkus Reviews
“What a gorgeous read. It has the halo of an instant classic. This is a deep, searching novel, as preoccupied with human nature and ordinary evil as it is with detection.” – AJ Finn, #1 bestselling author of The Woman in the Window, on Death Under a Little Sky
“What a joy to spend time with these characters again! An immersive, intelligent delight with huge atmosphere and heart. My favourite new crime series.” – Lucy Foley on Death in a Lonely Place
About the Author:
Stig Abell believes that discovering a crime fiction series to enjoy is one of the great pleasures in life. His first novel, Death Under A Little Sky, introduced Jake Jackson and his attempt to get away from his former life in the beautiful area around Little Sky, followed by Death in a Lonely Place and The Burial Place. Stig is absolutely delighted that there are more on the way. Away from books, he presents the breakfast show on Times Radio, a station he helped to launch in 2020. Before that he was a regular presenter on Radio 4’s Front Row and was the editor and publisher of the Times Literary Supplement. He lives in London with his wife, three children and two independent-minded cats called Boo and Ninja (his children named them, obviously).
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 