by Colleen Cambridge

Those who enjoy mysteries will most likely recognize the name Mallowan in this book’s title. For those who don’t know, Mallowan was the name of Agatha Christie’s second husband. Two facts…He was younger than Agatha and was an archaeologist.

This book is delightful and clever. The Mallowans are characters in the novel but do not dominate the story. It is a take on the English country house murder and is told with warmth and a nod to those who know their mysteries. For example, readers will observe Agatha getting the brainstorm that later results in The Body in the Library.

The book’s conceit is that Agatha’s housekeeper, Phyllida, is an old friend. Because of this, they chat often and do not maintain a strict employer/employee relationship. Phyllida is the amateur detective for the case. She is an astute observer even as she ends up in some trying situations.

The Mallowans host a house party. The murder victim does not appear to be whom he said he was. Photos that he possessed are found and these include all of the guests at the party. What was the victim after? Who murdered him? Why? Read the story to find out.

Both this book and Murder at Greenway were recently published. Each has some connection to Agatha Christie. I preferred this novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Ruin is a first novel by an author who is Irish and currently living in Australia.  Readers who know Tana French will think of her when they read Dervla McTiernan’s book.

A brief plot synopsis:  A detective had a case twenty years ago that involved two children who were not adequately cared for.  In the present, that little boy, now an adult dies.  What happened?   Was it murder? Why?  Is his sister involved?  Guilty?

The story is involved and complex with multiple characters.  They are well drawn, have personalities and evoke reactions in the reader.

I finished this  novel already looking forward to the next in the series.  One small criticism;  the author includes so much, maybe too much in the final solving of the case.

This novel gets 4 plus stars from this reader.  Other opinions below:

“A gripping mystery set in Galway that spans twenty years. It’s a complicated page-turning story that touches on corruption, clandestine cover-ups, and criminal conspiracy. . . . A story that’s as moving as it is fast-paced.”
—Daily Mail (London)
“Powerful . . . McTiernan neatly ties [the threads of the novel] all together in the suspenseful conclusion. McTiernan, born in Ireland but now living in Australia, is a writer to watch.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A Novel

by Brenda Novak

The Bookstore at the Beach is the second title that I have read by Ms. Novak, following her earlier novel, One Perfect Summer. As was true of that book, this is a long (448 pages) story that is filled with plot and character.

Readers follow and get to know the lives, struggles and joys of three generations of women from one family. The oldest is Mary. She runs a bookstore in a small town and leads a fairly insular life. Mary is not a risk taker. Why? What happened to her in the past that formed her attitudes and character? No spoilers so you have to read the book to find out.

Next up is Autumn, Mary’s daughter. She has come with her two children to spend time with Mary over the summer. Readers learn early on that Autumn’s husband has been missing for nineteen months, most likely related to his travel in Ukraine. Should Autumn hold on to hope that he will come back or…should she again become involved with her high school crush who lives in the town where Autumn is summering?

Finally there is Taylor, Autumn’s daughter. She was feeling numb and engaged in sexual activity without using birth control. Is she pregnant? If yes, how will this define her life? There is also a strong plot line about Taylor’s friendship with Sierra as Taylor wonders if she is in love with her.

The author holds onto all of the many plot strands without losing any of them. She tells a story that has some depth and that held my interest.

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

My earlier review:

I have absolutely adored Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway mystery series and hope that she will continue to write many more book about Ruth, her family, colleagues and friends. Ms. Griffiths has also penned the post-war Max Mephisto series. Now, she has written her first standalone novel. I will start by saying that this atmospheric, character driven story does not disappoint.

Plot: Clare is a teacher at the school where her daughter, Georgia, is a student. Harbinder is a Detective Sergeant whose alma mater is this school. When Clare’s colleagues begin to die, Harbinder is assigned the investigation. The school also has close ties to the author of a very scary story. These threads intertwine to produce a suspenseful, somewhat Gothic tale.

Most interesting to me in the book were the many characters and their interrelationships. There are Clare and her ex-husband, Clare and her daughter, Clare and her colleagues, Clare and Harbinder. Then there are Georgie and her parents, Georgie and her teachers, Georgie and her boyfriend, Georgie and her writing group, etc.

Another feature of the novel is the offering of different points of view. The reader sees events through the eyes of Clare, Georgie and Harbinder.

As in all good mysteries there are some twists. This is a novel that I definitely recommend. My favorite novels by this author are still the Ruth novels but this is worth a read for suspense lovers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read by one of my favorite authors!

by Dana Stabenow

I had previously read series mysteries by this author. They took place in Alaska and in the present. This title was a chance for Ms. Stabenow to try something different.

Death of an Eye takes place in ancient Egypt. Many of the characters, as for example, Cleopatra, will be familiar to readers. The times were tumultuous and it was not easy to know whom to trust. It is a major blow for Cleopatra when her trusted Eye is murdered. What happened? Will the case be solved? Read this one to find out. There is a helpful character list to keep readers focused.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

by Peter S. Rush

I was intrigued by this novel. It takes place in the area where I grew up and during a time period that I know. The story is one of a man who is idealistic and wants to make a difference in the world. This leads him to join the police force rather than going to law school. What he discovers as an officer forms much of the basis for the novel.

The story begins with the shootings at Kent State. From its impact on Steve, readers follow him as he makes his way in life. They will also spend time with his girlfriend, a medical student.

This is a novel that can be read by those who remember the early 70s and those who want to know more about that time. The world currently feels upended but this novel reminds readers that there are often difficult times and difficult decisions to be made.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Churchill Sisters

The Extraordinary Lives of Winston and Clementine’s Daughters

by Dr. Rachel Trethewey

Winston Churchill was/is a figure known to many for his outsize life and accomplishments. I have previously read several books about him as well as both fiction and non-fiction titles about Clementine.

This book, however, explores a different aspect of the Churchill family, the lives of their daughters and the Chuchills as parents. I was aware that tragically one of the Churchills’ daughters died too young and that there was a brother. I had also read a bit about Mary. I did not know the other sisters though and now feel that I do.

This title tells an interesting story about these daughters, their lives, their times and those around them. By the way, those around them included their cousins, the Mitford girls. Each of the Churchill siblings is brought to life here and, as is generally true of siblings, each had a unique personality.

Those interested in social history, biography and/or the Churchills will welcome this title. I do recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

125+ Simple, Healthy Recipes for Living Well

by Sanaa Abourezk

Many people choose to follow a Mediterranean diet and some may want to do so as vegetarians. For both groups, as well as those who enjoy vegetarian meals on occasion, this cookbook should be most welcome.

This book has beautiful photos throughout. These are sure to leave readers hungry and ready to try out some of the recipes. There are entries on everything from small plates to sweets. Between these two sections are recipes for soups, salads, pasta, sandwiches and much more; there are 125 recipes in all. In addition to these, there are many helpful introductory sections.

I recommend giving this book a look. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

Sample recipe: Tomato and Basil Brushetta

1. Preheat the broiler.

2. In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil and garlic. Brush the bread slices with this mixture and place them on a baking sheet. Set aside.

3. In another small bowl, stir together the tomatoes and basil and season with salt and pepper. Taste, and adjust seasoning, if needed.

4. Place the bread under the broiler for 1 minute until crisp and lightly toasted. Remove from the oven, spoon 1 tablespoon of the tomato mixture on top of each piece. Slice, and serve.

Bruschetta is extremely versatile—and extremely delicious! This version is a simple way to use all the extra tomatoes from your garden during summer. You can make caprese bruschetta by adding fresh mozzarella to this recipe or, for different Mediterranean flavors, combine labneh and mint or diced strawberries and feta.

Here I’ve taken the standard approach of topping the bread before serving, but my favorite way to serve bruschetta is to spoon the tomato mixture into a bowl and place the garlic bread around it.

30 MINUTES OR LESS • NUT FREE • VEGAN

PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES • COOK TIME: 5 MINUTES • SERVES 4

PER SERVING: CALORIES: 206; TOTAL FAT: 8G; SATURATED FAT: 1G; CARBOHYDRATES: 28G; FIBER: 2G; PROTEIN: 6G; SODIUM: 313MG

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, mashed
• 1/2 baguette, cut into 12 slices
• 3 small ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1 cup chopped fresh basil
• Salt and pepper

Best Mystery & Suspense of 2021 – BookPage | Discover your next great book!
— Read on www.bookpage.com/features/best-mystery-suspense-2021/

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