Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!
Great reads for adults and children!
Count to ten in this adorable, rhyming counting book featuring New York City. It is so cute! The illustrations include everything from the Empire State Building to bagels.
This book will probably be loved as much by adults as by the kids for whom it is intended. It offers a fun (and sometimes funny) glimpse of the city.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Familius Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#IntheBlinkofanEye #NetGalley
I had seen this book on a British bookstore’s website and was quite intrigued. I was delighted when it became available in the U.S. and thrilled to get an early review copy of this series starter.
Jo Callaghan has already received awards and praise for her debut. She is the Winner of the Crime Writers’ Association’s John Creasy New Blood Dagger Award and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. These are huge accomplishments and, in my opinion, well deserved.
Readers will not forget Kat and Aide. Kat is a detective who has been paired with an artificial intelligence device. It is an experiment to see if and how AI might be useful in investigations. Aide can assume bodily form as a hologram, at times causing much consternation. He also can be rather outspoken. There is much interplay between Kat’s intelligence and emotions as compared with Aide’s brilliance and lack of tact.
Kat, Aide, her team and the creator of Aide Lock are tasked with the investigation of two (cold) missing persons cases, both young men. One is a Black student missing from Uni. The other is a white theater graduate who is from a well to do family. Are these situations independent or linked?
In this novel, there is an excellent mystery plot and added to this are the AI elements of the story. Both kept me turning the pages and sad to reach the end of the story. Luckily the sequel, which is out in the UK, will be coming to the U.S. before too long.
The other aspect of the story that I enjoyed was the characters. Each had enough back story to keep them interesting. In the case of Kat, she is widowed and has a teenage son. One of her investigators has a sister who had a bad experience at university while another, Debbie, seemingly lacks confidence. The relatives of the missing young men and others also very much come to life.
This book is easily one of my favorites of the year. I hope Callaghan writes many more titles.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this one. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 06 August 2024
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Frank Bruni is a long term columnist with the New York Times and a writer who ably reflects what is going on in the world around him (and us). That is true here.
The cover of this book is quite evocative and points to how many are living now-instead of pouring oil on troubled waters, many seem to be reaching for the gasoline. Why so much grievance? Why so little understanding?
Bruni goes through many of the current grievances. Many of these will be familiar to readers who may have already formed their own opinions. Keep reading though because Bruni also has suggestions about how to do better. There are also suggested readings.
Note: those who regularly read Bruni’s columns may well find some familiar material here.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 30 April 2024
Shanghai, the setting for this historical thriller, had a place in WWII history of which many may not be aware. It became a place to which many Jewish people fled when they were trying to escape the horrors in Europe. This was because of the relative ease in entering the country. In the hands of capable author Joseph Kanon the city and its inhabitants come to life in this rather twisty tale.
Readers meet Daniel Lohr who is seeking safety by traveling from Germany to China. On his way there he meets Leah with whom he connects. They are two of the many characters in this story that brings Shanghai and its varied lements, including the criminal, to life.
Publishers Weekly gives this one a starred review noting the atmosphere, suspense, dialogue and more. I do agree with this while noting that some readers may find it a bit challenging to keep all of the characters and plot straight. I think that those who like historical thrillers and those who have read other books by Kanon will want to give this one a look.
Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 25 June 2024
The Marie Benedict Historical Fiction bundle (on Amazon)
Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict is an e book bargain
Now out: Lady Clementine A Novel by Marie Benedict
An e book bargain: The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
The First Ladies (by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murphy)
Discover: Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
The Marie Benedict Historical Fiction bundle (on Amazon)
Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict is an e book bargain
Now out: Lady Clementine A Novel by Marie Benedict
An e book bargain: The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict
The First Ladies (by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murphy)
Discover: Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict
It is very easy to recommend this graphic biography of Van Gogh. I so enjoyed reading the biography and seeing the illustrations. Told by Vincent’s sister in law, readers learn about his and brother Theo’s early life, Vincent’s art works, personal life and struggles. It is a wonderful resource.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book introduces the concept of emotions to toddlers. Reading, talking about and looking at the colorful and expressive pictures in this title will begin the process of a child’s learning to identify their feelings. Kids are encouraged to consider each emotion that it is featured and when they feel it.
This book offers a good take on its subject. Acknowledging how one feels and recognizing the emotions of others are important life skills. This title shows that learning to do so can begin at an early age.
Many thanks to Callisto Publishing-Callisto Kids and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 17 September 2024
Here is another in a series of puzzle books for “brain training.” These puzzles may in fact be good for you (note the 90 day challenge) but I mostly do them because I think that they offer a fun challenge.
There are six different types of puzzles included in this title. They are logic grids puzzles, sudoku, calcudoku, battleship, kakuro, and Masyu (a puzzle with which I was unfamiliar). There are three sections, each of which includes some of the puzzle types, with harder puzzles being added as one goes along. Puzzlers can choose to go in order, or if they feel more skilled, they can advance to a harder section. Try puzzles that you already know that you like or learn something new. There are full directions for each type. However, the puzzles are approached, have fun!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Zeitgeist for this title. I plan to get the hard copy of this title so that I can do all of the puzzles. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Zeitgeist for this title. All opinions are my own.
Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
When I have the opportunity to both read and listen to a book I am happy. I can read when I am sitting and can listen when I am out and about. This synchronicity worked perfectly while I enjoyed The Murders in Great Diddling.
The cover and title give some sense of this as a British mystery and indeed it is. Great Diddling is in Cornwall. It is a community where the people who live there know one another.
The story begins when there is an outdoor tea party. Owner of a grand (if rundown) estate has invited the villagers to a tea party. This device leads to a rapid introduction to many characters for the reader.
There are the manor owner, Daphne and her assistant Margaret. There is Daphne’s difficult and disliked nephew. There are author Berit and Sally, daughter of her agent, and hopeful employee of Berit. There is a couple; James has a stake in a hotel and Penny has a stake in defending her husband. There are owners of village businesses whose doors are to be closed and others as well.
There is an explosion and in its aftermath a body is found. I will leave it to the reader to find out who the victim is. Suffice it to say, there are many with motives.
This is the lead in to a long, fun and involving story. Take the time to enjoy it. I did. Note how much there is about books, lots of books in this one as you read or listen.
I found the narration to be spot on. The reader was British and helped to create the atmosphere of the story in a delightful way.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Dreamscape Audio for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 13 August 2024
For audio book: #TheMurdersinGreatDiddling #NetGalley
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 