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Anna Lee Huber began a new series last year when This Side of Murder was published. In Treacherous is the Night, the second novel featuring Verity Kent, the author hits her stride.

The reader learns early on that Verity was an agent in La Dame Blanche, a resistance and intelligence group, during WWI. This story has to do with events that had their origin in that time.

At the beginning of the novel, Verity, although not a believer, attends a seance with a friend who hopes to contact her brother. For those who don’t know, attending seances was common after the war. The medium appears to channel an agent with whom Verity worked during the war. From this point on, the novel is a hunt for clues to find Emilie and to prevent a tragedy. While the reader assumes that, since this is a series, Verity will survive, the author should be credited for creating suspense in her narrative.

There is a reason to read the books in order. SPOILER: This has to do with what happened to Verity’s husband, something the reader learns in the first novel. However, if the reader is willing to move forward, there is no reason that this novel cannot be read first.

I gave This Side of Murder three *** and am happy to give the new novel four. I enjoyed spending time with the main characters in this book and look forward to meeting up with Verity, Sidney and the rest of the crew in the future.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher.

sleuthofbakerstreet.ca/i/1584200/May_2022_e_MOM_Read.pdf

Tea at the Palace

50 Delicious Recipes for Afternoon Tea

by Carolyn Robb

#TeaatthePalace #NetGalley

One of the highlights of my Junior Year Abroad was having afternoon tea at Sally Lunn’s in Bath. In those days, it was an indulgence that I could barely afford. But, there is something about a true afternoon tea that is so appealing that it was pounds well spent.

Anglophiles, tea lovers, bakers and others are sure to enjoy this title on that iconic British ritual. There are fifty recipes here organized by royal residences. These include Buckingham Palace, Sandringham House, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Brighton Pavilion, Highgrove House and Blenheim Palace, among many others.. A recipe from each of those listed: Apple Scones with Raspberries and Clotted Cream; Bramble and Apple Jam with Cinnamon; Jam Pennies; Chocolate and Salted Pistachio Cookies; Almond Cake; Lemon and Thyme Cake; and Caramel Apple Turnovers. Again, there are many more from Balmoral, Windsor, Kew and others. My mouth waters just thinking about these recipes .

Note: The author worked as a royal chef so is perfectly credentialed.

I am no kitchen whiz but this book is fun to look at, even if I may never attempt most of the recipes. I enjoyed the photos of the food, the garden parties, the sites and more.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto=White Lion for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date 03 May 2022

This title is one of the best that I know of for readers who want to learn about upcoming books across a wide variety of categories. Whether it is debut authors, blockbuster authors, popular authors, non-fiction, fiction, YA, suggestions can be found here. In addition, a number of titles have lengthy excerpts.

Buzz Books is free at many e retailers. I very highly recommend it. I have already started making my list for new titles to read. It is lengthy.

Many thanks to NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 May 2022

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths

#TheNightHawks #NetGalley

pub date: June 29, 2021

Elly Griffiths is currently writing three different mystery series. There are the stories (historical) set around Brighton and the Harbinder novels in addition to those about Ruth, Nelson, Michelle and those around them. While I would happily read anything that Ms. Griffiths writes, I admit to a special soft spot for the stories about Ruth. Last year’s book featuring her as been nominated for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. I hope she wins.

A lot going on in this title. There is a mysterious and scary dog who apparently lives in a pretty horrible house in the middle of nowhere. Unlike with Holmes, this dog does bark but it is unclear why he is frequently sighted and to whom he belongs. He does terrify people though.

The farm where this beast has been seen is the site of two deaths. Was there a murder/suicide or was this a crime committed by an outsider? The murdered doctor is a singularly unlikable character. He has intimidated his wife and children and has been doing some mysterious research with fatal results. Which unsavory aspect of his life led to his demise?

The Night Hawks of the title are a group of men who go hunting for metal objects. Their finds include bodies, both historical. Some of these men have connections with the doctor and his family. Does that make them suspects?

Ruth also has a new colleague with whom to contend. What is in his past? Will Ruth rue having hired him? Where will he fit in the events of the story?

Around all of this, are Ruth, Nelson Kate, Michelle and their relationships. Where will they be by the end of the book?

Readers who are fans should absolutely rush out to get this 13th title in the series. I recommend it highly for its local geography, the people and the story itself.

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

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder

A Novel

by T.A. Willberg

Some have compared Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder to Harry Potter and I can see why. There is a magical setting (Miss Brickett’s instead of Hogwarts), a special training (to be an investigator as compared to a wizard), orphans (Harry and Marion), ghastly relatives (Dudley and his parents and Marion’s grandmother) gadgetry, friendships, secrets, maps, mysteries, villains and more.

If all of this sounds good to you, think of giving this 1950s set mystery a read. I think that you will enjoy it.

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

by Helena Hunting

Those who enjoy romance novels will, I think, enjoy this title. It is a fun, absorbing read. Main character London works in her family’s hotel. As life turns out, one day a big client turns out to be someone that London once met in a bar and turned down. The action takes place from there. Readers may well be able to imagine the end of this story but the fun is in savoring as they get there.

I relaxed and happily followed this story of London and her family as well as that of the wealthy Jackson. This seems like the perfect read for a sunny spring day.

Note: This book is the second in a series. I think that it can be read on its own. Readers will probably want to read both title though.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 May 2022

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for When Sparks Fly:

“When Sparks Fly will warm your heart and make you cry – sometimes at the same time.” – PopSugar

“In this delightfully fun standalone contemporary from prolific and ever-lively Hunting, the author plays to her literary strengths by giving readers a sensuality-forward storyline that is neatly lightened by snarky humor even as it’s deftly grounded by a thoughtful exploration of the roles family and friends can play in our lives.” – Booklist

“This is a solid pick for romance fans.” – Publishers Weekly

“The supporting characters―Avery’s two sisters and her and Declan’s group of friends―make the romance richer.” – Kirkus Reviews

A Novel

by Dervla McTiernan

I very much enjoyed this author’s Ireland set mysteries of which there were three, The Ruin, The Scholar, and The Good Turn. In The Murder Rule, the author changes everything up. This new book is not set in Ireland, but rather in the U.S., around the UVA Law School. The book is meant to be a thriller with an unreliable narrator who is single minded but not straightforward among most things.

Laura and her daughter, Hannah, share a very close relationship, albeit one with role reversals. Hannah worries about and cares for her mother who suffered enormous trauma in the past. The story behind her mother’s circumstances is what motivates Hannah throughout these pages.

Hannah is a third year law student at the University of Maine as the novel opens. She manipulates her way into a semester at UVA (the University of Virginia) Law School and to a spot on their Innocence Project. Hannah is there for her own purposes but her desire to see justice done does not mesh with the goals of the others with whom she works on Michael Dandridge’s wrongful (is it?) murder conviction.

Readers get to know Hannah, Laura and their situation well. They also spend time with the other law students, the head of the program and those involved in, and impacted by, the actions of Michael Dandridge.

I wanted to like this book as much as the others that I have read by this author, but, sadly for me, I didn’t. I found that there was a lack of warmth in these pages. I know that Laura was wronged and traumatized but somehow I didn’t care quite enough for her. The plot of this story also depended on actions that did not always feel realistic to me.

Those who like thrillers, law and courtroom stories and idealistic young lawyers to be may well enjoy this book. I just wished for more even as I respect that the author was trying to write something completely different from her earlier novels.

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

Pub date: 10 May 2022

Monica Ali has written her first novel since the popular and well-received Brick Lane. I was delighted to be given an ARC of this title and was eager to read it. To me, it was worth the wait between the two books.

First, think about the title. It is not Love, Marriage or Love and Marriage but Love Marriage. Readers learn that the title is not about the sequencing of relationships but rather about a love (not arranged) marriage. This seems to refer to the marriage between protagonist Yasmin’s parents but could also refer to Yasmin’s upcoming marriage to Joe. Readers who follow the characters will learn, not surprisingly, that relationships can be complicated, fraught and sometimes places where there is dishonesty.

Yasmin is the child who has done mostly what was expected of her. She has studied hard and is in the process of becoming a doctor like her father. Yasmin’s brother is adrift as the book opens. He has a third class degree in Sociology so the world is not on his doorstep offering employment.

Yasmin is engaged to Joe. He is white and a fellow doctor. There is at least one big thing that he has not shared with Yasmin. Arif’s girlfriend Laura is pregnant and due shortly before Amina’s wedding. Early in the novel, Arif is not dealing with this. What will happen in each of these relationships?

Then, there are the parents.Yasmin and Arif’s parents were raised in India where they were of different castes. Yasmins father is a self-made man (mostly). Yasmin’s mother takes care of everyone. I love that she was described as short and cozy, not chubby. Was their marriage truly a love marriage?

Joe’s mother is a well-known feminist. Once she invites Yasmin and her parents over for a meal, all bets are off. Spiraling begins. For example, suddenly Yasmin and Joe may be married by an imam when they wanted a civil ceremony. As the reader continues this book that can be funny and poignant much will happen.

Love Marriage is an involving read. I recommend it.

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