Another delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series set in Ashland, Oregon!
Baker Jules Capshaw, along with her husband, Carlos, and Torte’s resident barista, Andy, are packing their bags and preparing for the ultimate coffee excursion in Costa Rica. A fortuitous invitation from one of Carlos’s former colleagues, Valentina, has them venturing to the coffee capital of the world for a tasting tour and an immersive weekend at her family’s organic coffee farm.
They soak in the tropical breezes, the vibrant colors, the sounds of morning birdsong, and the sweeping views of the historic coffee farm. Valentina is the ultimate host, offering them traditional meals and thrilled to have their input as she’s preparing to open a coffee counter and bakery on the farm.
The getaway is just what Jules needed. A chance to relax and unwind, curl up with a book and iced latte by the pool, and tinker in Valentina’s kitchen, dreaming up new recipes to bring home. Except her tranquil weekend quickly turns into a nightmare when one of Valentina’s employees is found dead in the pulping machine. Now, Jules will have to put her vacation on hold to try and uncover the murderer before one of Torte’s beloved workers becomes the next body thrown into the mix.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Pub date: 26 August 2025
My thoughts:
I like the title of this book with its invitation to think about coffee drinks. I also found the cover to be a fun one with it spilled coffee skull, delicious looking pastry, and sense of a beautiful location.
The trip that Jules, Carlos and Andy took sounded like fun and started out so promisingly with its offer of relaxation, good food and drink in a gorgeous setting, and a lovely host. Of course, all of this was disrupted by murder
It was enjoyable to watch the mystery unfold. I enjoyed spending time with the characters and liked the location.
This title will, I think, appeal to those who enjoy traditional mysteries.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All thoughts are my own.
When a book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library gets pulled into a murder investigation, she’ll need the help of a found family of unlikely sleuths and the ghost of Agatha Christie to solve it!
About the Book
Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail, and announces she’s there to help solve a murder— that has not yet happened.
But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.
Aided by an unlikely band of fellow sleuths —including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits—Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”
About the Author
Amanda Chapman is a lifelong mystery lover and wordsmith. An enthusiastic fan of traditional mysteries and of New York City she found herself wondering, “What if someone recreated Agatha Christie’s personal library -– even to the furnishings and architecture — in New York City? What would happen in that space?” And thus MRS. CHRISTIE AT THE MYSTERY GUILD LIBRARY, the first in a new series, was born.
My Thoughts:
Those who enjoy cozy mysteries, are fans of Agatha Christie, are willing to suspend disbelief, enjoy lots of book references, enjoy accurate NYC locations, a murder and a good, fun plot will rush to buy Chapman’s novel. I very much enjoyed it.
I loved the setting. Chapman has created a special library that features a replica of Christie’s own library at Greenway. I wanted to go to this (imaginary) library set on Washington Square and spend the day. Glad I could do so virtually.
Protagonist, Tory has inherited the running of the library from her grandmother. She also is a book restorer. Tory has eccentric relatives, including her cousin Nic. Nic leads to Tory right into suspicious events and murder(s).
Speaking of eccentricity, how is it that Mrs. Mallowan (you should know who she is) is found sitting in the library? She very much wants to be involved in the events of this story.
Some suspension of disbelief is required but do this and there is much to enjoy here. I look forward to what comes next for this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews:
Reviews
“The first in a new series that I know is going to be a delight. Clever, funny, sharp, surprising — Amanda Chapman delivers!”
– Elizabeth Gilbert, New York Times bestselling author of City of Girls and Eat, Pray, Love
“Amanda Chapman’s Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library has everything a reader could want in a mystery, including the (possible) ghost of Agatha Christie, the queen of puzzle solvers. Add a whopping good mystery, engaging characters, a little romance, glamorous New York, and you have the perfect cocktail. It’s a sparkling, witty gem with heart, and I can’t wait for the next installment!”
– Deborah Crombie, McCavity Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Duncan Kincaid/Gemma James Scotland Yard mysteries.
“Chapman intrigues and delights with this twisty and funny must-read tale featuring (it appears!) the Queen of Crime herself. Narrator Tory Van Dyne is at first mystified by Mrs. Christie but ends up marveling at how she unravels myriad clues to solve two homicides. Prepare to lose sleep — you won’t want to put this book down.”
– Maddie Day, Agatha Award-winning author of Scone Cold Dead and Murder at Cape Costumers
“Witty, twisty, and utterly enthralling, Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library pays homage to Dame Agatha and is a love song to New York City. I fell in love with the Mystery Guild Library and can’t wait to pay it another visit!”
– Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author and Agatha Award winner
“Chapman has a blast with her contemporary New York setting, resettling British mystery tropes among Manhattan’s rare books community, theatrical circles, and eccentric Upper East Siders. Uncovering a killer, it turns out, can be just as fun in the Big Apple as it is in St. Mary Mead. Fans of classic detective fiction are in for a treat.”
Jenny Colgan writes stories that are always enjoyable. The locations are brought to life in a way that makes me want to book a plane ticket. The characters are people with whom I want to spend time. The plots are involving and just right for a break in the day.
This time the story takes begins in very northern Scotland. Readers meet Gertie. She is an island girl who thinks that she may want something more. What will she decide? How will Callum Frost fit into the story? Pick this one up to find out.
This book is perfect for readers who want a bit of escape, especially those who also like to knit. Those who’ve read other books by the author will be delighted to meet up with some friends from the earlier novels.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for this title. All opinions are my own.
I so enjoyed this title that I went back and looked for the first in the series which I had not read. Anyone who enjoys puzzle solving will, I think, find this book engaging.
Meet the characters and see their portraits, then plunge into the story. There is much to discover.
Solutions to the individual puzzles often depend on deciphering the visual clues in the detailed illustrations that seem reminiscent of Edward Gorey. The text also engages the solver/sleuth. In fact, the reader is referred to as “you.”
I could not always figure out the answers to the individual puzzles but that is ok. The answers when I looked at them made sense. The fun is in trying.
Hopefully by the end, readers will know who killed the biscuit heiress. Fans will hope that another book is forthcoming.
Recommended to puzzle solvers and mystery lovers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Yes, it is that Milne! What many may not know is that the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories also tried his hand at detective fiction. It is a shame that he only wrote one story since, as it turns out, he was pretty good at it!
This is a classic, country house mystery. There are a murder, many suspects, a prodigal brother’s return, an amateur detective (and his friend) and more than enough to keep the pages turning. There is even some humor.
It is very easy to recommend this reissue to fans of the Golden Age of Detective fiction.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press-Pushkin Vertigo for this title. All opinions are my own.
This is the first novel that I have read by Ms. Khan, although it is not her first novel. I plan to read this entire series of mysteries featuring Esa and Rachel, along with the significant people in their lives.
This novel is a mystery but more than that. It has an important story to tell that resonates in the current climate of being less than welcoming to immigrants. The story takes place in a small Quebec community where the Muslim population is mistrusted by many. An attack occurs at a mosque and deaths result. Who is at fault? What has led to such deep feelings of unease on everyone’s part? Is the situation hopeless?
In A Deadly Divide there are members of the Wolf Gang, a white supremacist group, the Lilies, a group of girls, whose role in all that goes on seems ambiguous, the local priest, a reporter, the police force and a government spokesperson, among others. All are well described and become real and distinctive.
Along with the mystery and the politics, this novel is very much about the relationships of the characters with one another. This felt true to life as human feelings and emotions do not go away, even in the light of crises and volatile political situations.
I recommend this novel. It will make you think about the positions that you hold while also enjoying a well told story. Fans of author Suzanne Chazin’s series will want to read this. Both series look at the role of immigration in our world view while also depicting complex mysteries.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-galley. The opinions are my own.
“Outstanding…Khan perceptively explores who fear can quickly erupt into violence.”―Publishers Weekly (Starred and Boxed)
“Khan peoples her police procedural with believably nuanced characters to highlight the consequences of hate. The tension never lets down.”―Kirkus
AUSMA ZEHANAT KHAN holds a Ph.D. in International Human Rights Law and is a former adjunct law professor.
Sarah Morgan has a knack for writing involving stories with good characters. In her latest book, I enjoyed getting to know Imogen (even if she exhausted me) and Dorothy. Their lives change over the course of the novel and readers will always be hoping that these changes are for the better. Readers will also hope that each is able to be honest about their backstories.
Imogen works hard, really hard, like all the time hard. She is very good at the event planning that she does until…
Dorothy has experienced sadness with the death of her husband. She feels fortunate to have a daughter and granddaughters even if her daughter feels that Dorothy is too close to Imogen.
What brings these women together? How do their stories intersect? Find out in a book that kept me wanting to read more. Now, I will wait impatiently for what this author writes next.
Recommended to readers who like holiday stories and women’s fiction.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 