Several years ago, I listened to a Master Class featuring Collins. I enjoyed learning about his writing process in a series of insightful episodes.
Following this, I read the poet’s collection Whale Day. Now, I have spent time with Water Water, reading a poem a day so as to savor this collection of sixty poems.
Some people veer away from poetry fearing that it is too highbrow or that they won’t understand a verse. Collins is not like that. His poems are written in, what I find, to be a direct and clear style. Readers can choose those that they prefer but they will not feel bewildered overall. The poems often reference every day life and end with something to ponder. So many are worth the reader’s time.
It is easy to recommend this collection.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this title. All opinions are my own.
I first read about this book when it was published in England and knew that I would want to read it. My favorite genre-mystery- plus an Oxford setting and a lot about words. (I loved The Bookbinder which was historical fiction set in Oxford with much about words). So, getting this book from NetGalley was a real treat. It did not disappoint.
Readers meet Martha who works for the Clarendon English Dictionary which feels like a fictional stand in for the OED. She and her colleagues including Simon, Alex and Safi get to deal with words as their profession. They are just four of the many characters in this story.
As the book opens, there is a staff meeting and all seems pretty much as usual until an odd letter arrives. It takes a bit but Martha comes to realize that this letter may be referencing the disappearance of her talented, bright and beautiful sister thirteen years ago. No one knows what became of Charlie? Who is “chorus,” the anonymous letter writer? What other messages will be received? What did happen to Charlie?
From this point in, I was so drawn in and spent as much time as I could reading the story. There were also some fun treats along the way with various vocabulary words. For example, I loved conjobble which was defined as eat, drink and talk!
Still, while the English vocabulary references were great fun, it was the story that kept me intrigued. Publishers Weekly described this book as a “treat.” I definitely agree.
I am delighted to know that this is the first in a series. I can’t wait for more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 30 September 2025
384 pages
Mystery & Suspense
Editorial Reviews
Review
“There are pleasures here for anyone who revels in the joy of text.” ― Kirkus Reviews
“Etymologist Dent makes an impressive fiction debut with a clever whodunit that pivots on her linguistic expertise…a tantalizing puzzle for Anglophiles and Golden Age mystery lovers alike.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Linguist Dent proves she is a talented wordsmith in her own right, diverting readers with historical and lexicological tidbits throughout the story…Martha and her team are whip-smart and fun, providing a light juxtaposition to the suspense elements, while the lush and vibrant descriptions of Oxford create a lovely sense of place; readers will be both informed and entertained.” ― Library Journal
“If you’re like me and love both language and crime, then Guilty by Definition has it all. Susie Dent’s impressive debut novel is virtuosic. So meticulously and fascinatingly steeped in the archaic glory of words, it will surely be the ultimate treat for every logophile out there. But this is so much more than a celebration of the dictionary – it’s a tantalizing mystery of a missing sister, a cold case that will not lie down, and a family frozen in their unresolved grief… all while their circle of friends and colleagues nurse secrets and lies beyond explication. Guilty by Definition is positively aglitter with etymological and detecting treasures for word-sleuths and crime-fans alike.” ― Janice Hallett, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Appeal
Next in the series:
Publisher’s Synopsis-From the British publisher
A brand-new linguistic mystery from Countdown‘s resident lexicographer, Susie Dent, set in the city of Oxford
**AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**
When mysterious symbols appear as graffiti around Oxford, lexicographer Martha Thornhill recognises them from a runic alphabet created by a deceased fantasy writer whose papers she once worked on. But this is no publicity stunt, and tensions intensify when further graffiti is found near the body of a university lecturer.
Martha is not the only one to have doubts when the suspicious death is ruled by police as suicide. Called upon to lend their linguistic expertise to the case, Martha and her colleagues begin to unearth a tragedy that extends beyond the ancient walls of the university. As new messages portend more death, it’s clear that a spirit of vengeance is stalking the city’s streets, and may be reaching out towards them too.
“This captivating story is an ode to book lovers!”—Woman’s World
A mysterious book with a legacy spanning from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day unites three women—and their secrets—in this unforgettable novel from New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton.
London, 2024: American expat Margo Reynolds is renowned for her talent at sourcing rare antiques for her clients, but she’s never had a request quite like this one. She’s been hired to find a mysterious book published over a century ago. With a single copy left in existence, it has a storied past shrouded in secrecy—and her client isn’t the only person determined to procure it at any cost. Havana, 1966: Librarian Pilar Castillo has devoted her life to books, and in the chaotic days following her husband’s unjust imprisonment by Fidel Castro, reading is her only source of solace. So when a neighbor fleeing Cuba asks her to return a valuable book to its rightful owner, Pilar will risk everything to protect the literary work entrusted to her care. It’s a dangerous mission that reveals to her the power of one book to change a life. Boston, 1900: For Cuban school teacher and aspiring author Eva Fuentes, traveling from Havana to Harvard to study for the summer is the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s a whirlwind adventure that leaves her little time to write, but a moonlit encounter with an enigmatic stranger changes everything. The story that pours out of her is one of forbidden love, secrets, and lies… and though Eva cannot yet see it, the book will be a danger and salvation for the lives it touches.
How it starts:
Margo
London
2024
She was late.
Not late by normal standards-when Margo Reynolds glanced at the secondhand Cartier watch on her wrist, she was relieved to see that she had five minutes before her appointment-but late by her standards. Even when she accounted for the unpredictable London commute in her calculations-Would the Tube be delayed? Would the sidewalks be filled with tourists gawking at the sights? Would her heel get caught in one of the street grates requiring a dash into Harrods to purchase a replacement pump?-she hadn’t considered the fact that all three of those things would happen. So despite the cold, damp December day, she was now sweating beneath her coat collar, her legs transitioning to that stride somewhere between a purposeful walk and a full-out run as she fairly propelled herself to her meeting by sheer force of will.
Something wet fell on her head.
Margo looked away from the street in front of her for a moment to gaze skyward, praying that she was wrong, that they weren’t headed into the first snow of the season.
That five minutes was feeling more and more tenuous now.
Another wet drop of snow-if it could even be called that, considering the watery mixture-hit her square in the face.
She should have called a car.
“Is it snowing?” a woman exclaimed.
Margo winced at the delighted shriek beside her, at the way the word “snowing” seemed to travel through the crowd with the same unbridled glee as a celebrity sighting in front of a double.
The author:
Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba, The Last Train to Key West, and The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba. Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
“This captivating story is an ode to book lovers!”—Woman’s World
“The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes reminds us that books and stories have always been and will always be a shining light in our lives…. There is the perfect blend of drama, intrigue and passion to make it a novel that will appeal to book lovers everywhere.” —Natasha Lester, New York Timesbestselling author of The Paris Orphan
“A moving tribute to the power and comfort of books, this is a must read for book lovers.” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Booklover’s Library
“The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes has everything I love: suspense, adventure, heart, and gutsy heroines.” —Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist
My thoughts:
I feel like I may be in the minority as I had never before read a novel by this author. That will change now.
Here is an engaging triple timeline story about a book, one of my favorite literary sub genres. I enjoyed spending time in London, Havana and Boston with the three main characters as their connections with the book unfolded.
Those who enjoy women‘s fiction will want to pick this one up.
Many thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
I very much enjoyed this author’s first novel, The Last Bookshop in London. I was so delighted to see that she had written a second book. This one is set during WWII as was the first.
What could be more enticing than a novel called The Librarian Spy? I couldn’t wait to open the book and then became immersed . I highly recommend this sophomore effort on Ms. Martin’s part.
This time the author has developed a plot that feels more complex than that of the first book as she follows two different woman. The Librarian Spy is Ava. When the story opens she is working at the Library of Congress in D.C. Ava very much likes her job and the feeling of security that being surrounded by books provides for her. Nonetheless, when she is tapped for a special assignment, Ava takes the new position even though it means getting on a plane, something that is highly fraught for her (readers will learn why).
Ava finds herself in Portugal. Not all readers may know that Portugal was neutral during the war. The author does a terrific job of portraying the city. There are no shortages for many while others are waiting in long lines, hoping against hope to be able to board a ship and to leave Europe. There are the many who watch others; these Portuguese and Germans leave others feeling unsafe despite the neutrality.
Ava’s job is to collect newspapers and other documents that can be transmitted to the States. She meets with a number of characters in the course of her work. Readers especially watch her relationship with the British James.
Meanwhile in France, a second plot line unfolds. This is the story of brave Elaine. Her name has been changed, because, as readers learn early in her part of the book, she gave her papers to a Jewish woman who was fleeing. She was lucky to get new ones. Now, as Elaine, she is involved with the Resistance. Elaine’s husband has been captured and readers may feel a great deal as they wait to see if he will survive the war.
Readers follow Elaine through a depleted city as she couriers, and into the woods where the maquis hide. Will she survive? Will her work change anything in the war? Will Elaine lose friends to the Germans? Finally, how will the two stories intersect?
As I have previously noted, there have been so many WWII titles published for historical fiction fans so it can be hard for any particular one to stand out. In this novel, I found that the courage of these characters moved me especially when I think about the current state of our world and the need for values and bravery in the face of challenges. I recommend this novel even within a crowded field.
Readers who have enjoyed novels by Susan Elia MacNeal and/or Anne Perry’s Elena Standish series may also want to give this title a look.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date 26 Jul 2022
The author’s first book:
The Last Bookshop in London
A Novel of World War II
by Madeline Martin
#TheLastBookshopinLondon #NetGalley
Pub Date 06 Apr 2021
As soon as I saw the title of this book, I wanted to read it. The magic word, of course, was bookshop. I also found the cover to be very appealing. So, I initially judged this one by its cover. That said, I wasn’t disappointed.
This novel’s protagonist, Grace, is a young woman who recently lost her mother. Along with her best friend, Viv, she moves to London to stay with a family friend. The two arrive only to have war declared not long after. Viv enters one of the women’s units while Grace remains with her mother’s friend. She takes a position in a bookshop and the shop is also a character in the book.
This story points out the importance of literature. In a lovely scene, Grace goes underground during a bombing raid where she begins reading Middlemarch to those who are stuck in the shelter over night. Those stuck there look forward to additional chapters when the next call to go underground comes.
Grace organized the bookshop and develops a relationship with its curmudgeonly owner. She studies way to make the shop successful and, for example, advertises buying books to read while unable to sleep in one’s beds due to the bombings.
The author does a good job of portraying wartime Britain. There are losses of people, property, usual foods, a way of life. There are also the joys of friendship, love, books and connection.
There are so many WWII set novels being written now. My theory is that, awful as the war was, it is more reassuring to look back at that time than our current one. For all of the suffering, the reader knows that eventually Britain will declare victory.
I think that this title is worth reading. Let me know what you think!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
In my opinion, Marie Benedict is among the best of the current writers of historical fiction. Here, once again, the author has succeeded in writing an absorbing story that is based upon historical fact. Unlike in her earlier novels, this time she tells the story of six important characters (rather than one) who were sisters. They were so different from each other that it is hard to believe that they had the same parents.
The family included one son, Tom and many daughters. There was Nancy, the novelist. Diana was beautiful, married to one of (those) Guinnesses but she left
Bryan to be with the Fascist Oswald Mosley. Unity was somewhat of a fanatic who was deeply enamored of Hitler while Jessica was a Communist. There were also younger sisters Debo and Pamela.
Benedict tells her chapters from different characters points of view. She often has characters detailing their experiences in the same time frame.
There is a very rich history in this family. Readers will enjoy learning more about the Mitfords in this well written story.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this title. All opinions are my own.
Anyone who was/is a fan of the TV series will want to pick up Murder by Cheesecake. Here they will find the familiar friends entangled in a murder mystery when Dorothy’s date is found dead in the titular cheesecake. Will the group solve the murder? Will the wedding that brought them to Florida actually take place? Read this one to find out.
Here is a fun and enjoyable book that is not too long but has enough plot to fill up the pages. Even a reader with no prior knowledge of the GGs can enjoy this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this book. All opinions are my own.
Imagine that your family sends you (alone) to the U.S. because of financial hardship in Ireland and you will need to support your relatives back home. Imagine that you are able to take on someone else’s identity to become the servant of Andrew Carnegie’s mother. Will you be found out? Will your position be secure? These are among the premises of this richly detailed historical novel. Relationships between upstairs and downstairs, specifically between Clara and Andrew Carnegie are a major part of this novel. Read it too to learn more about the business world and women’s roles in the post Civil War U.S. Overall, an enjoyable read.
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Murder disrupts the routine for four quirky librarians who hide among books to keep their secrets in this mystery from USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas.
Sometimes a workplace isn’t just a workplace but a place of safety, understanding, and acceptance. And sometimes murder threatens the sanctity of that beloved refuge…. In the leafy suburbs of Austin, Texas, a small branch library welcomes the public every day of the week. But the patrons who love the helpful, unobtrusive staff and leave rave reviews on Yelp don’t always realize that their librarians are human, too.
Hazel flees halfway across the world for what she hopes will be a new beginning. Jonathan, a six-foot-four former college football player, has never fit in anywhere else. Astrid tries to forget her heartbreak by immersing herself in work, but the man who ghosted her six months ago is back, promising trouble. And Sophie, who has the most to lose, maintains a careful and respectful distance from her coworkers, but soon that won’t be enough anymore.
When two patrons turn up dead after the library’s inaugural murder mystery–themed game night, the librarians’ quiet routines come crashing down. Something sinister has stirred, something that threatens every single one of them. And the only way the librarians can save the library—and themselves—is to let go of their secrets, trust one another, and band together….
All in a day’s work.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas is one of the most acclaimed historical romance authors writing today and a two-time RITA Award winner.
Reviews:
“An irresistible ensemble and a raft of surprises as crime-solving librarians solve double murder mysteries while guarding their own secrets…This knockout mystery mixes the camaraderie of The Thursday Murder Club with the chic family and romantic drama of Crazy Rich Asians. Thomas’ virtuosity shows in this fast-paced and intricate yet emotionally moving mystery.”—Kirkus (STARRED)
“Richly infused with a deliciously dry wit, graced with intriguingly nuanced characters, and enhanced with several subplots that will remind readers of just how good a romance writer Thomas is, this is a thoughtfully entertaining, stunningly satisfying treat.”—Booklist(STARRED)
“Thomas takes her time to introduce each of her characters and give them space to develop so that readers will root for each and every one. For fans of Richard Osman’s “Thursday Murder Club” series and Tess Gerritsen’s Martini Club.”—Library Journal
My thoughts:
The Librarians is the first book that I have read by Thomas who will now become one of my favorite authors. Her earlier books were historical mysteries, I think, while this one is contemporary.
There were many things that I loved about this title. Scenes set in libraries appeal to me most definitely. I also very much enjoyed getting to know the four main characters and their backstories.
Readers meet Astrid, who has hidden something about her identity; Hazel, who has left behind a tricky past involving her husband; Sophie, who did something that she should not have but had reasons for it; and last, Jonathan who has taken time to accept his identity.
When two murders occur, there are complex links and actions binding these four librarians to one another. Who killed a man who ghosted Astrid only to reappear? Why was a woman who came to an evening event at the library found murdered that very night? What is it like for characters when people from their pasts reappear? Finding out will keep readers turning the pages.
Spending time in this book’s worlds (Austin, Singapore, Madeira), with its characters, and in its timeline made for a very fun read.
I am eager to see what Ms. Thomas does next.
Kirkus Reviews states: “This knockout mystery mixes the camaraderie of The Thursday Murder Club with the chic family and romantic drama of Crazy Rich Asians. Thomas’ virtuosity shows in this fast-paced and intricate yet emotionally moving mystery.” True.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
A magical cookbook and a summer on her family’s Italian olive farm help a brokenhearted social media chef cook up a satisfying new life in this delectable novel from the bestselling author of Recipe for a Charmed Life.
Rising star Jules Costa loves re-creating vintage recipes for her popular online cooking show. When personal and professional disaster strikes though, her only chance to save her career is to complete her new cookbook before the end of the summer. Panicked, Jules returns to her family’s beloved olive farm on the shores of Italy’s stunning Lake Garda. Seeking culinary inspiration, she’s hoping to convince her spunky eighty-year-old nonna Bruna to share her precious collection of family recipes.
Jules’s plans quickly go awry as she discovers that Nonna’s cookbook has magical and unpredictable powers. It reveals only one recipe at a time, offering a cooking experience guaranteed to satisfy the chef’s palate and bring clarity to their life. Yet the pages remain stubbornly blank for Jules. To make matters worse, the olive farm is in deep financial trouble, and Jules soon uncovers a web of family secrets involving the cookbook and a lost recipe for Orange Blossom Cake that holds the key to everything. Then there’s Nicolo, the boy next door, who broke her young heart years ago. He is now all grown up, even more attractive, and the only person poised to help Jules find answers.
In a whirlwind summer beyond her imagination, Jules begins to unravel the mysteries baked into her family’s history and discovers the essential ingredients to create the future of her dreams.
About the author:
Rachel Mae Linden (who also writes as Rachel Linden) is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures in over fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her writing. She is the author of Recipe for a Charmed Life, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, and several other novels. Currently Rachel lives with her family on a sweet little island near Seattle, WA where she enjoys creating stories about hope, courage and connection with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy.
To learn more about Rachel Linden, visit her website or find her on Facebook or Instagram.
How it begins (with thanks to Berkley):
Chapter 1
The summer that changes my life begins with a bright orange molded Jell-O salad.
“A Jell-O salad just feels perfect for June, don’t you think?” I chatter breezily to my roommate and cohost Drew as I set out grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and a big box of lemon Jell-O on the kitchen counter of our apartment, arranging all the ingredients in a pleasingly photogenic way. “Now that we’re finally getting some sunshine, I think a molded gelatin salad is just the thing for this last segment.” Only this week did it finally feel like summer in Seattle after months of gray drizzle.
Drew adjusts the lights and recording equipment, fine-tuning before we start shooting. It’s late afternoon on a Sunday in mid-June, and we’re getting ready to record the last of the short cooking show segments we release each week on Instagram. We’re using our day off to film an entire month’s worth of segments for our show The Bygone Kitchen, just as we have once a month for the past five years.
“I just don’t get the appeal of Jell-O salad,” Drew admits. “It feels like old lady at a church potluck type of food.” He shoots me a wry, dimpled grin. “I’d go for a craft brew IPA and some cheese curds over Jell-O any day.” (Drew is from Wisconsin, a state in which cheese features prominently in the comfort food category.)
“Scandalous!” I gasp in mock outrage, rearranging a few ingredients on the counter so I can grab everything easily as we are filming. “Clearly, you don’t understand the positive power of Jell-O salad. I’m convinced any sadness or disappointment in life can be helped by a nice big scoop. And there are so many to choose from. Sunshine Salad, cherry cola Salad, strawberry pretzel Salad, orange sherbet Salad, broken glass Salad . . .”
My thoughts:
This is a lovely story about adapting to change, questioning assumptions, planning life’s next steps, family, loss, food, Italy, and romance. So much to like in these pages.
As the story opens Jules feels as if things are going well. Along with her roommate, she does a short video each week that features recipes from the past-think jello mold for one. Jules thinks that a big break is about to come-does it? Find out early in the story.
Jules has faced loss. Her mother left the family for a new relationship. The subsequent death of her father was a real cause of grief. In this novel, she will come to understand more about her family and herself and will put her life pieces back together.
One thread of the story centers on the cookbook contract that Julia must fulfill. She has a summer to do it but is very stuck. The novel brings her and her half sister (whom Jules had thought had a perfect life-but does she?) to Italy. Here Jules will spend time with her beloved grandmother and try to unblock and create her book. Still, she wonders, why can’t she see the pages of her grandmother’s beloved recipe book which are blank to her but not her grandmother.
In Italy, Jules will again meet her teenage first love. Yes, readers will want to know how this goes. Oh, and don’t forget the book’s title-what is the significance of the orange blossom cake?
There are many reasons to pick up this book. The pages turn in this appealing novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Imagine that your family sends you (alone) to the U.S. because of financial hardship in Ireland and you will need to support your relatives back home. Imagine that you are able to take on someone else’s identity to become the servant of Andrew Carnegie’s mother. Will you be found out? Will your position be secure? These are among the premises of this richly detailed historical novel. Relationships between upstairs and downstairs, specifically between Clara and Andrew Carnegie are a major part of this novel. Read it too to learn more about the business world and women’s roles in the post Civil War U.S. Overall, an enjoyable read.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 