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

I have enjoyed other novels by this author so was very happy to settle down with her latest. It offers a long read with multiple characters and their interrelationships. The setting in a small town was evocative and left me wishing that I could go for a visit.

Readers meet two main characters. They are Daisy and Mason. Daisy is a nurse whose work has been in fast paced, trauma settings. For reasons that are not immediately clear, Daisy flees/moves away from her position to one in this small town. For his part, Mason has returned home where he coaches the high school baseball team. His own potential career was cut short when he suffered an injury at the end of high school. He is described as having a bit of a reputation.

Daisy and Mason meet when Mason discovers a newborn in a dumpster. The first nurse he sees at the hospital is Daisy. Their relationship progresses from there with the two very interested in this baby’s future. Who is she? What happened?

Another intriguing character is Tilley. She is a great aunt to some cute children with whose family she lives. Tilley has a backstory that seems quite intriguing though it will take readers many pages before they fully understand her.

There are so many more characters in this book. Many of them are members of Mason’s clan while others are moms at the school, Daisy’s family and others. In fact, I had a bit of trouble remembering exactly who was who. It doesn’t matter though, it is possible to just keep going.

There are discoveries to be made in these pages as Daisy comes to understand her past and her mother. No spoilers here though. Others will also grow.

This novel would make an ideal beach/vacation read. It is another hit for this author.

Library Journal observes that

With small-town charm, memorable characters, and thoughtful explorations of motherhood, grief, and redemption, this heartwarming novel is a moving story of second chances and unexpected love.

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

Pub date: 05 May 2026

Post first published on 30 April 2026

Description:

from the publisher

“Queen of the beach read,” (Cosmopolitan) New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey returns with a heartfelt escape to coastal Carolina.

After the worst day in her professional life, burnt-out NICU nurse Daisy Stevens runs to Cape Carolina, North Carolina, looking for a new life—and possibly new romance. On her first day at her “simpler” job, high school baseball coach Mason Thaysden discovers an abandoned baby, sending ripples through the entire tight-knit town of Cape Carolina.

Mason is still struggling to reconcile the scars of the injury that kept him out of the big leagues, stuck in his hometown, and searching for a way out. This newcomer and the child they’ve saved together might be just the motivation he needs to stay put. Sparks fly as Mason acquaints Daisy with Cape Carolina, introducing her to his friends and family, including his batty Aunt Tilley, who is looking for relief from long-buried family secrets and her own fresh start.

But as Daisy becomes increasingly attached to this abandoned child, and begins facing her own demons in the process, a startling discovery is made that threatens to rip the entire town of Cape Carolina apart, placing Daisy, Mason, and Tilley in the center of the storm. In a novel that proves that “Kristy Woodson Harvey is (the) go-to for elevated beach reads” (People), they will each learn that with love, understanding—and a community theater production of Hello, Dolly!—sometimes life conspires to bring us just exactly where we belong.

August 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-August-2026-Titles

#ACaseofLifeandLimb #NetGalley

Readers who got to meet Gabriel Ward in the first book in the series (A Case of Mice and Murder) will be absolutely delighted to spend time with him in this second novel in a proposed trilogy. (I wish it could be more, Ms. Smith). Those who have not read the first book can read this one first but I am pretty sure that they will then go back to read the other title.

There is a lot of plot in this book. I will not give it all away so that readers can enjoy the circumlocutions of the story as they read. There is a case involving Topsy Tillotson who is a music hall star. There are a series of upsetting packages and their accompanying notes. There are murders. Certainly, all this enough is to keep the pages turning in this traditional, historical mystery.

There were many things that I loved in the book including the time spent in the law courts and environs. It is a self contained world with chambers, living spaces, refectories, chapels and, watch out for the cat. I found that the characters were very interesting and idiosyncratic.

Ward himself is very precise and ordered. He is a man who does not easily left others in. He grows a bit and does value some of his connections over the courseof the story.

The book is cleverly plotted and includes an interesting dilemma for two of the male characters. One of them is in the law court while the other is a cleric. No more to say as readers should have the experience of discovery.

Smith writes with the authenticity of knowing her setting and the law courts intimately. She has also researched the history of the time in which the story is set.

I most highly recommend this book.

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

Pub date: 18 November 2025

First posted on 17 January 2026

Description:

from the publisher

AN ELLE BEST MYSTERY OF THE YEAR

“I was immediately besotted . . . Brilliant.” -Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author of The Appeal

All is calm, all is bright . . . until reluctant sleuth barrister Gabriel Ward is tasked with finding the culprit of yet another grisly crime in the Inner Temple.

Christmas Eve, 1901. Gabriel Ward KC is hard at work on a thorny libel case involving London’s most famous music hall star, Topsy Tillotson, and its most notorious tabloid newspaper, the Nation’s Voice, but the Inner Temple remains as quiet and calm as ever. Quiet, that is, until a severed hand arrives in the post.

While the hand’s recipient, Temple Treasurer Sir William Waring, is rightfully shaken, Gabriel is filled with curiosity. Who would want to send such a thing? And why? But as more parcels arrive-one with fatal consequences-Gabriel realizes that it is not Sir William who is the target, but the Temple itself.

Someone is holding a grudge that has already led to at least one death. Now it’s up to Gabriel, and Constable Wright of the City of London Police, to find out who, before an old death leads to a new murder.

From the Publisher:

About the Author:

Sally Smith spent all her working life as a barrister and later King’s Counsel in the Inner Temple. After writing a biography of the famous Edwardian barrister, Sir Edward Marshall Hall KC, she retired from the bar to write full time. A Case of Mice and Murder, her first novel, was inspired by the historic surroundings of the Inner Temple in which she still lives and works and by the rich history contained in the Inner Temple archives. A Case of Mice and Murder is the first in a series starring the reluctant sleuth Sir Gabriel Ward KC

Review:

“Ms. Smith (herself a barrister and Inner Temple resident) nicely balances scenes of legal and detective work, peppering the narrative with details about her characters’ personal lives and back stories. Gabriel grows as an attorney and human being by embracing the empathy he feels for his clients and other citizens. With its lawyerly shenanigans and emotional poignancy, A Case of Life and Limb is a real corker, as a policeman who sometimes counsels Gabriel might say.” ―The Wall Street Journal

AN ELLE BEST MYSTERY OF THE YEAR

“I was immediately besotted . . . Brilliant.” -Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author of The Appeal

The first book:

A Case of Mice and Murder by sally Smith

This book is just completely adorable. I love it. I think that the youngest children will too. The artwork is very bright and engaging. Children of many backgrounds who are doing many different things are in these pages.

An adult could find much to talk about with a child here. There are moods, activities and more. There is even going to be a mirror in the print copy.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who knows a young child.

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

Pub date: 01 September 2026

Description:

from the publisher

Giggles, grins, and silly faces—this is baby fun at its best!

106 Baby Faces is a joyful celebration of the many moods and moments of babyhood. With expressive illustrations featuring babies laughing, playing, splashing, and being delightfully silly, it’s the perfect book for little ones who love looking at other babies.

Along the way, readers can spot 10 playful dogs, a few curious cats, and even a cheerful bear hiding in the pages. And at the very end, a special peek-a-boo mirror invites babies to find the most important face of all—their own!

Ideal for ages 0–2, this board book supports emotional development, visual engagement, and early bonding—all while making babies smile.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/04/27/books/review/poetry-places-quiz.html

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/books/thriller-books.html

www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/books/new-books-may.html

#IntheSpiritofFrenchMurder #NetGalley

In the Spirit of French Murder is the fourth in a wonderful historical mystery series that features Julia Child as a main character. I dare anyone to read about her cooking without getting hungry! Also, Paris is beautifully evoked and might make a person want to visit. Other areas in France also come into the story.

Look at the cover. It reflects some things that are important in this novel. Also, it is possible that the title of this one has more than one meaning.

Anyone who has read the earlier books, will be delighted to visit with the many familiar characters including Tabitha, her love interests, her uncle and grandfather, the market stall owners and more. Note that I don’t think that it is necessary to have read the other books to enjoy this one but I think readers might want to.

What is the significance of the warnings of a psychic? What do the bluets mean? Will the murders be solved? Read this entertaining, atmospheric story to find out.

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

Pub date: 28 April 2026

Post first published on 17 April 2026

Note the other titles in this series are reviewed on my blog.

Description:

from the publisher

After moving to France, Tabitha Knight has a new friend in fellow expat and Cordon Bleu student Julia Child, whose culinary tips can come in quite handy. But something’s cooking in postwar Paris, and it isn’t just cheese soufflé…

Tabitha has enjoyed an entertaining afternoon in Julia’s kitchen, but her return home is a bit jarring. As she arrives at her grandfather’s rue de l’Université mansion, a woman bursts out the door babbling about messages from spirits and a warning Grand-père must heed. Oncle Rafe angrily sends the woman on her way, and neither man will answer Tabitha’s questions.

It’s not the last she sees of the mysterious visitor. While she’s on a date that evening, she’s accosted by her again—and learns that Madame Vierca is a medium who claims to have visions of a dark fate that awaits Grand-père and Oncle Rafe. The very next night, Tabitha’s messieurs host a soiree at their new restaurant, inviting fellow Resistance fighters from the war known as the Nine Bluets. To commemorate the work of the Resistance network, the vase on the dinner table sports nine of the pretty blue flowers.

But shortly after the revelers leave the restaurant, one of Grand-père’s old friends is found dead on the street . . . and one of the nine flowers is missing from the vase. When a second member of the Nine Bluets is found poisoned the next day, and a bluet flower is left with the body, Tabitha cannot ignore Madame Vierca’s frightening predictions about her dear messieurs. She has no choice but to share her suspicions and fears with the enigmatic and unruffled Inspecteur Merveille.

Tabitha soon finds herself caught up in an investigation that takes her and Merveille to the seediest, most dangerous parts of the Left Bank—home of strange, fantastical legends, disquieting events, and unusual people. As she and Merveille desperately try to find a killer, they know they don’t have much time before the rest of the Nine Bluets are targeted . . . including Grand-père and Oncle Rafe.

From the Publisher:

From the publisher:

This irresistible, laugh-out-loud story full of heart, hilarity, and hijinks stars a protagonist who’s ready to slice, dice, and stir up a second chance at life by enrolling in culinary school to win back her husband’s heart. Imagine Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods meets Jesse’s own Vera Wong—what, like cooking is hard?

Mebel, a doting Chinese Indonesian trophy wife, is 63 and completely unprepared for life’s next act: her husband of 40 years, Henk, leaving her for their much-younger private chef. But rather than wallow, Mebel does what any self-respecting almost-divorcée would do: she enrolls in culinary school. After all, any good wife knows that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Take that, Henk’s mistress! Henk will be running back to Mebel in no time! Except, instead of kicking off her plans for revenge in a fabulous culinary institute in Paris, Mebel accidentally enrolls in a tiny program in the rainy English countryside. Amid culture shock, kitchen disasters, and unexpected friendships, Mebel begins to realize that maybe this escapade isn’t about getting her husband back. Maybe it’s about finding herself for the first time.

Whether you’re in it for the messiness, the mayhem, or the mouthwatering misadventures of a woman rediscovering her purpose, MS. MEBEL GOES BACK TO THE CHOPPING BLOCK is an absolute treat.

About the author:

Jesse Q. Sutanto is the author of adult, YA, and children’s middle grade books. She has an MSt in Creative Writing from Oxford University and a BA in English Lit from Berkeley, though she hasn’t found a way of saying that without sounding obnoxious. The film rights to her women’s fiction, Dial A for Aunties, was bought by Netflix in a competitive bidding war. Her adult books include Dial A for Aunties, its sequel, Four Aunties and a Wedding, and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. Her YA books include The Obsession, The New Girl, and Well, That Was Unexpected. Her MG books include Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit and its sequel, Theo Tan and the Iron Fan. Find her on Twitter @thewritinghippo and on Instagram @jesseqsutanto.

My thoughts:

It is always a pleasure to find a book with a protagonist who is a mature woman given a good storyline. That said, readers don’t have to be of any particular age to enjoy this book.

I also love stories that have a cooking or baking background so that also drew me to this novel, as did the idea of finding oneself as a woman in her sixties. It was fun to see how Ms. Mebel makes her way from pampered wife, to a cooking school course, to getting to know new people, and enjoying (and learning) from new experiences.

This book did not disappoint. I will miss Ms. Mebel.

Those who enjoy women’s fiction will enjoy this one. It might well appeal to readers of Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame as well.

This book has gotten many positive reviews. Here are some from the major book review magazines.

“Sutanto’s (Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)) heartwarming, feel-good story of a formerly entitled woman who learns she has desires of her own and is more than arm candy is laced with humor and will appeal to readers who enjoy stories of women reinventing themselves.”—Library Journal

“Sutanto, who is behind the beloved Vera Wong mystery series, has created another unsinkable and unstintingly funny 60-something female character, and readers should derive much pleasure witnessing Mebel’s transformation from castoff wife into Chinese Indonesian Golden Girl. Soufflé lightness, deliciously flavored with feminism.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The lessons beyond the kitchen about trust friendship, autonomy, resilience, (a little) revenge, and most importantly, her true self prove that even ‘at sixty- three, there is still so much more to life, so many more things to discover.’ Let’s hope Sutanto brings Mebel back soon.”—Booklist

“Sutanto keeps the pages turning with tight plotting and thoroughly enjoyable characters. Readers are in for a treat.”—Publishers Weekly

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for the invitation to this blog tour. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 28 April 2026

Post first published on 28 April 2026

This is Fiona Davis’s third New York City based historical novel and it is a winner! I have not read her earlier books,The Address and The Dollhouse, but may well do so now.
The Masterpiece has a dual narrative structure, one story is set in the 1920s-30’s and the other in the 1970s. The stories of Clara Darden and Virginia Clay overlap and intersect.
Darden is an illustrator, teacher and painter in the earlier era while Virginia, a divorcee, begins working at Grand Central around the time when the landmark battle was underway. Each woman has a backstory, relationships and challenges, all of which are well depicted.
Did you know that in the 1920’s there was an art school right in Grand Central? Did you know that Sargent was one of the founders? Are you interested in historical preservation? Do you enjoy a story with a plot twist? If you can answer yes to any, or all of these questions, I highly recommend this book.

#TheMasterpiece #NetGalley