Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

#ShrinkSolvesMurder #NetGalley

330 pages

Mystery & Thriller

Four stars ****

My thoughts:

I wanted to read this book from the moment that I learned about it so, thank you NetGalley for this enjoyable read (all thoughts are my own).

I knew that the author was a therapist so was interested in how her day job connected with this new writing experience. Indeed, Perry offers some psychological insights to the reader. For instance, she gives a pretty clear differential diagnosis for suicide. Yes, there is a question of suicide for the victim but I would describe this as a cozy mystery.

Here are eccentric characters, a fairly grumpy protagonist, a depiction of life in a village and some crime solving. Anyone who likes their mysteries on the light side will, I think, want to give this one a look.

Many thanks to Crown Publishing and (again) NetGalley for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Post first published on 08 August 2026

Description:

from the publisher

A small-town psychotherapist draws on all her knowledge of the human psyche to solve the murder of a patient in this warm and witty mystery novel—by a real psychotherapist turned #1 internationally bestselling author.

“Bears all the hallmarks of a Richard Osman-style cozy: a small community with a picturesque setting; prickly-but-lovable middle-class types who turn to crime-solving in later life. An enjoyable blend of mystery and gentle satire.”—The Guardian

Living in idyllic coastal Sussex, Patricia Philipps enjoys her quiet life—walking the cliffs, shouting at poorly disciplined dog owners, telling tourists to keep their distance from the crumbling cliff edges, and cold-water swimming.

Then a body washes up near Beachy Head, upending her carefully curated life as she discovers the deceased is one of her clients—her “Three O’Clock,” in fact.

The police chalk it up to suicide, but Pat sees things differently. She reads people. She understands them—their lusts, their loves, their quirks, their ticks, their tells, their deepest desires. She looks, she listens, she watches. And she never jumps to conclusions. After all, she spends her days listening to secrets, resentments, fantasies, and motives. She’s certain someone wanted Henry Clayton dead.

With her chaotic best friend Pritchard (part-time poet, full-time meddler) in tow, Pat swaps the therapist’s couch for the crime scene. It’s time to unpick the lies, untangle the egos, and catch a killer hiding in plain sight.

From the Publisher:

Excerpts from the author’s interview with the BBC

Of her new release, she said: “It’s a cosy crime novel for people who like to lose themselves in a book and for people who like a good page turner.”

Shrink Solves Murder is for everyone, she said, but particularly those who enjoy Agatha Christie and Richard Coles novels.

“There are some similarities between me and my main character but she’s much grumpier than me. I’d make a useless sleuth,” said Perry.

From Penguin Books Australia

The warm, witty and wise crime caper by the nation’s favourite therapist

***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR***

**OVER THREE MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE**

‘Fantastic book: wickedly witty, with delightful, quirky characters and a cracking plot’ JACQUELINE WILSON
‘An assured and hugely enjoyable murder mystery debut. It’s brilliant!’ RICHARD COLES

What Waterstones says:

The bestselling author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read delivers a deliciously witty and warm crime caper, as psychotherapist Patricia Philipps swaps the therapy room for sleuthing after one of her patients whose secrets she is extremely familiar with ends up dead.

Her 3 o’clock just became a murder case…

When a body washes up near Beachy Head, the Police chalk it up to suicide — a tragic but not uncommon end in these parts.

But local psychotherapist Patricia Philipps isn’t convinced.

The victim? Her three o’clock patient, Henry Clayton.
The cause? Supposedly self-inflicted.
The truth? Pat suspects murder and she’s trained to spot what others miss.

After all, she spends her days listening to secrets, resentments, fantasies and motives. And she’s certain someone wanted Henry Clayton dead.

With her chaotic best friend Pritchard in tow (part-time poet, full-time meddler), Pat swaps the therapy room for the crime scene. It’s time to unpick the lies, untangle the egos and catch a killer hiding in plain sight.

Shrink Solves Murder is a warm, witty and wise crime caper from the nation’s favourite therapist.

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.

#SleepyTimeFairyTalesLittleBedtimeStoriesPierrotBooksBooksPierrotJurajMartiskaPeterSMilan #NetGalley

72 pages

Children’s fiction

Four stars ****

Pub date: 08 September 2026

Description:

from the publisher

Fall Asleep with a Fairy Tale is a magical collection of classic stories specially adapted for the youngest readers. Favourite tales such as The Twelve Months, The Princess and the Pea, Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp, and more are transformed into delightful adventures that nurture children’s imagination and early reading skills. The book is beautifully illustrated by artist Juraj Martiška.

My thoughts:

Here are ten whimsically illustrated short versions of fairy tales. They are intended for young children who have an adult to read to them. Here are Jack in the Beanstalk, The Princess and the Pea, and Snow White to name a few.

I enjoyed what I read of this book. Note that it was a preview and not the full title. Still, I suspect all of the tales are well told.

This looks like a nice addition to a shelf of bedtime stories.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pierrot Books Canada for this title. All thoughts are my own.

poisonedpen.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/BN-Aug-26.pdf

An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists

by Katy Hessel

with Ping Zhu (Illustrator)

Arts & Photography-Children’s Nonfiction-(Art) History

Pub date: 06 October 2026

My thoughts:

I love this book that introduces elementary school aged children to women artists from different schools over the centuries. The illustrations are completely engaging as is the text from the author. From the introduction to the last page, kids are invited to think about art. There is much information (in small sections) and questions for young viewers to contemplate. There are also many works of art to see.

Readers/viewers begin with the Renaissance and move forward from there. The journey will, I hope, be enjoyable for them.

I easily and enthusiastically give this book five stars. I think that, along with its intended audience, adults may also enjoy this title.

Many thanks to Norton Young Readers for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

An illustrated remix of Katy Hessel’s best-selling The Story of Art Without Men illuminates the works of women artists throughout history.

In The Story of Art Without Men, best-selling author and renowned art historian Katy Hessel journeys from the Renaissance to the twenty-first century, and across the globe, from Cornwall to Manhattan, Nigeria to Japan, to discover the stories of women who changed the world with their incredible art. She invites readers to explore the works of Sofonisba Anguissola, whose glittering Renaissance paintings blended art styles; Harriet Powers, a freewoman who quilted stories from her faith and her community; and Tarsila do Amaral, who painted her Brazilian culture to preserve it from colonization—and more than ninety other visionary women artists both famous and lesser known.

Buoyed by Ping Zhu’s dazzling illustrations and Katy Hessel’s signature sense of humor, The Story of Art Without Men upends our perspectives on art and its true masters—and cracks open the canon for women artists still to come.

About the Authors: 

Katy Hessel is a London-based art historian and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Story of Art Without Men.

Ping Zhu is an illustrator and an instructor at the Pratt Institute. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Advance Praise

“Makes for an inquiring, chatty guide, and the pages will fly by. [Hessel] deftly intertwines explanations of concepts such as perspective and discussions of great works with context about the systemic sexism these women faced… Concise yet thorough and engaging, this is an impressive introduction to art history; its focus on those whose names are often omitted makes it essential reading. An inspiring feast for eyes and mind.” -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

It has been a long time since Stedman wrote The Light Between Oceans. I highly recommend that book and was very eager to read this new novel.

A Far Flung Life includes some beautiful prose. Here are a few examples.

-In the end, we’re all looking for a place to ride out the storms of life. Among all these husks of houses and fossils of trees, we are like hermit crabs, borrowing a shelter for a time and moving on. (64)

-We think we know who we are: that each day, we’ll wake up more or less the same person. But just as rocks are weathered, we are perpetually formed and changed by time and experience until we leave this world… (65-66)

-There are some events you can’t come back from. Some gates close off every other path you could possibly take. A single moment in your past denies you a future…(164)

As can be seen, this novel was extremely well written. The sense of what life is like on a sheep ranch in an isolated community came through very strongly as did the challenges of that life. The characters are similarly described in ways that make the reader see and know them. That sense of the characters and caring for them did, for me, make the book hard to read at times. I wanted so much for them or even just some happiness. There were many tragedies and moments where the menace was palpable in these pages.

Readers will remember Matt, Bonnie, Rosie, Andy, Peachy and others long after they turn the last page. I do highly recommend this novel but with the caveat that it is not always an easy read.

Have you read this one? If so, I would love to know your thoughts.

Description:

from the publisher

From the author of the acclaimed bestseller The Light Between Oceans comes a breathtaking and epic novel set in the vast outback of Australia—about tragedy, family secrets, and the enduring power of love.

When we do something that can’t be undone or mended, how do we go on living? How do we find our North Star when there is no right answer? These are the questions at the center of M. L. Stedman’s unforgettable and magisterial new novel, A Far-flung Life. From the author of the beloved and bestselling The Light Between Oceans, this is a sweeping and epic story of a family, a tragedy, and the aftermath that reverberates for decades.

Remote Western Australia, 1958: here, for generations, the MacBrides have lived on a vast sheep station, Meredith Downs. It is a million acres, an ocean of arid land. On an ordinary day, on a lonely road, under the unending blue sky, patriarch Phil MacBride swerves to avoid a kangaroo. In seconds the lives of the entire MacBride family are shattered. And then, tragedy revisits when a twist of consequences claims the life of one sibling, and leads another to give up everything for the sake of an innocent child. Matt, the youngest MacBride, is plunged into a moral and emotional journey for which there is no map, no guide. The secrets at the heart of this gutting and beautiful story force him to choose between love and duty, sacrifice and happiness.

A Far-flung Life is a tale about family and belonging, fate and time. It is about people trying to do their best, and each, for private reasons, seeking shelter from the storm of life.

Can a fleeting moment unravel a whole life, mar it indelibly and irrevocably? Can compassion, resilience and forgiveness allow us to come to terms with our human imperfections? These are the questions Stedman asks in A Far-flung Life, her profoundly moving, uplifting, and luminous new novel about what the heart can endure for the sake of love.

#TimeTravelforBeginners #NetGalley

As soon as I heard about this book, I was intrigued and wanted to read it. I was not disappointed.

Here is a perfect book for summer reading. It is long (over 500 pages), immersive and has both traditional narrative and other style as, for example, group chats.

The time travel aspects of this book were so much fun. The possibility of visiting past moments in one’s life are tempting. There are also opportunities to go somewhere in history. For example, there are times spent with Frances Hodgson Burnett (The Secret Garden), the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen and many others. Discovering them is part of the joy of reading this title.

At its heart though I would say that this is a story of people living their lives, connecting, growing and learning, and looking for love. There are a number of characters including Teddy. He has visited the Time Travel premises with a collapsing marriage and a complex relationship with his brother. Will time travel and those who work at the agency help him to find his way?

Then there is Anna. She is a single parent who was in a dead end job until the unexpected opportunity to work at the agency came up. Will she find what she wants in life? Will her daughter and the other daughters in the book find their way?

There are two other women who figure in the plot as well as the staff and owner of the time travel agency, Teddy’s friends and more. It is easy to see how a long book was needed to hold all these characters.

I highly recommend this enjoyable read. It can be read with just a bit of suspension of disbelief as regards time travel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 04 August 2026

Post first published on 13 February 2026

Description:

from the publisher

Three strangers’ lives are forever changed when they’re all drawn to a mysterious agency claiming to have unlocked the secret to time travel in this dazzling novel from award-winning author Jaclyn Moriarty.

On a bustling road in Sydney, Australia, lies a nondescript storefront known simply as the Time Travel Agency. Inside, you’ll be welcomed by the smell of fresh-brewed coffee, a selection of baked goods…and the question, Where in time do you wish to go?

The guidelines are simple: you can go whenever you wish into the past, and there’s no fear of altering the present. Have tea with Jane Austen, scream at a Beatles concert, witness the Olympics in ancient Greece. Perhaps a more personal trip? Visit your long-lost grandmother, recapture the heady days of your youth, return to the idyllic time when your teen was a babbling baby—or watch yourself make the one decision that changed everything.

Is it a hoax? And if it’s real, what’s the catch?

When single mother Anna is offered a job at the agency, she glimpses the possibility of happiness. Meanwhile, Teddy’s a customer hoping to untangle his recently imploded marriage. And Jade, who has a deeply buried secret, despises the agency for offering false hope.

In Jaclyn Moriarty’s incandescent novel, Anna, Teddy, and Jade leap headlong into time, hurtling on a crash course toward one another. At turns entertaining and illuminating, Time Travel for Beginners explores the moments, big and small, that shape our destiny.

Children’s Fiction

240 pages

Five stars *****

Pub date: 25 August 2026

My thoughts:

Misty Copeland was a trailblazer in the world of ballet. She was the first Black woman to become a Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theater. Anyone lucky enough to have seen her dance knows that they watched someone special.

Now, among other things, Copeland is turning her hand to fiction that is for children between ages 8 and 12. With her insider knowledge of ballet, she pirouettes right through this story.

Readers meet Josie for whom dance is of utmost importance. She is willing to work hard to achieve her goals. However, she also faces a unique challenge as described to her by one of the teachers.

With its background of a school,The Firebird, a protagonist who is likeable, dance, and a bit of magic, this book will surely appeal to many young girls (and I hope some boys). Adults who love ballet and stories about resilient kids may also want to look at this title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for this title.

I hope that there will soon be a second book and that this is a book in a series. All thoughts are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

From New York Times bestselling author and former American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland comes the first book in a middle grade series about a girl who must balance her ballet aspirations with her magical destiny.

Twelve-year-old Josie can’t wait to start classes at the prestigious Star Fire Academy for the Performing Arts. She has been dancing ballet since she was three years old and hopes she can live up to the expectations of the school—and make her parents proud.

When she arrives at the academy, it only takes one class for Josie to know she’s going to have to perform like never before to keep up with her talented fellow students, especially if she wants a shot at the coveted solo in the upcoming fall recital. As Josie digs deep for the confidence and inspiration required for the role, she grows closer to her ballet teacher, Miss Fiona, who tells Josie she’s destined for something far greater than a solo.

According to Miss Fiona, centuries ago an evil sorcerer attempted to turn himself into the most amazing dancer in the world. Instead, his spell went wrong, transforming him into a monstrous being full of rage and envy—but also creating a beautiful dance spirit full of goodness: the Firebird.

Ever since, the two timeless entities have been fighting for the souls of young artists. In every generation, the Firebird is embodied by a new hero, and Josie is next in line. Suddenly, Josie is faced with two roles of a lifetime. Can she rise to the occasion?

NOTE: AS OF THE TIME OF THIS POSTING, THIS BOOK IS AN E BOOK BARGAIN AT JUST NINETY-NINE CENTS.

#ABookshopSummer #NetGalley

Women’s fiction

350 pages

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pub date: 12 February 2026

Description:

from the publisher

📚 An intriguing, twisting and heart-warming novel set in a bookshop that has an unexpected impact on people’s lives. From the author of The Second Chance Book Club and Found in a Bookshop 📚
When the Lost for Words bookshop in York hosts an event for a new reading project, four strangers’ lives will change in ways they could never have expected . . .

Trixie is hosting the event. She loves her job at Lost for Words, and she’s feeling grounded and calm – until a phone call from her ex throws everything off course.

Cherry only goes to the event because she needs to get out. Caring for her grandmother without any help is exhausting – and lonely. Maybe things will be different if her long-lost sister finally comes home.

Rhiannon and Guy really hit it off at the bookshop; it feels like the start of something special. And Guy is fantastic with Rhiannon’s baby. But Rhiannon is keeping quite a big secret . . .

When you spend time with people who love books, you’re sure to learn something about yourself – and maybe see a way to start in a different direction. As each of them is about to find out . . .

My thoughts:

The first book by this author that I read was The Lost for Words Bookshop. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story and how much I cared for the protagonist. Since then, I have always looked forward to this author’s new books.

It was delightful to discover that this story takes place at The Lost for Words where Trixie has a project about which she is excited. She wants to bring together a group that will want to read aloud at each meeting. The first book she chooses is Virginia Woolf’s, The Waves. I find this to be a charming premise as it is very far from living life on a screen-the participants will meet at the shop for the readings.

There are a few characters who are important in addition to Trixie. Cherry is the focus of much of the story. She is the twin who remained home when her sister went off to have adventures. Cherry is really missing her as the novel opens and she is feeling the weight of caring for her grandmother. How will Cherry grow over the course of these pages?

There are others who are important as well including mother to a young child, Rhiannon. What is she keeping private and not telling the others? Rhiannon gets along well with Guy. Will they become more than friends?

Those who enjoy a book about books, people who care for one another, and stories in which characters grow, will want to give this title a look. Readers will also enjoy the many book titles that are sprinkled throughout the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Headline for this title. All thoughts are my own.

From the Publisher: