Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

I love to read, recommend books and open the world of reading to others. I tutor to ensure that the next generation of readers will know the joys of a good book because their reading skills have improved. I am an avid reader, especially of mysteries and fiction. I believe that two of the world's greatest inventions were the public library and eyeglasses!

Cozy Case Files Volume 28

#CozyCaseFilesVolume28 #NetGalley

180 pages

Mystery & Thriller

Five stars *****

Pub date: 28 July 2026

My thoughts:

Much like the Minotaur Sampler, the Cozy Case Files offers information on forthcoming books and authors. There are generous excerpts for each title as well as a chance to see all of the covers.

I am especially excited about reading the latest book by Carolyn Haines. This is a series that I have enjoyed ever since the first title was published. Sarah Booth is a wonderful character as are Jitty and many others. But, that is just one of many excellent choices here.

This is a wonderful and free resource for those who enjoy traditional mysteries. It has been quite successful as can be seen by the number of volumes in the series.

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

Description:

from the publisher

Looking for a new cozy series? In the new edition of Cozy Case Files, Minotaur Books compiles the beginnings of six charming cozy mysteries publishing in Fall 2026 for free and easy sampling.

The twenty-eighth edition of Cozy Case Files features cozies from the following authors: Ellie Alexander, M.C. Beaton, Donna Andrews, Carolyn Haines, Mindy Quigley, and PJ Nelson.

Investigate the mysterious death of a wedding planner amidst an upcoming baby shower and fast-approaching wedding in The Pumpkin Vice Cafe. Help save the locals’ favorite pub by uncovering the dark secrets of a brewery in Dead Before Tea Time. Come to Meg’s house for Christmas to solve the attempted murder of her mother in their new playhouse – all while hosting the family Christmas and fixing the playhouse in Jay to the World. Unravel Sarah Booth’s parents’ murder, and get wrapped up in a mysterious abandoned mansion in town in Joy to the Bones. Attend a wellness retreat with a deep dish pizza chef and help her unfold a mystery when someone’s found dead during guided meditation in Murder in the Upper Crust. Crack two murder cases when a man, after confessing to murder, suddenly dies in Madeline’s bookshop in Murder Unabridged.

Spotlight on: Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra-an e book bargain

There are so many readers who will see the Anne with an E on this book’s cover and be pretty certain as to who is being referenced. For those in the know, the red hair of the young woman is another clue. Yes, this is a novel that takes Anne of Green Gables as its inspiration.

Kantra has written several books inspired by classics. There are two about Little Women and another about Dorothy Gale (from the Wizard of Oz). Here she turns to a new take on Anne’s story.

In Kantra’s telling, the story is set on lovely Mackinac Island. What will Anne find here? Readers will hope that she will find all that she is looking for.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for the invitation to this blog tour.

The book is published on 20 January 2026.

About ANNE OF A DIFFERENT ISLAND:

from the publisher

A woman learns to be the heroine of her own life in this heartfelt novel inspired by Anne of Green Gables by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.

She believed life could follow a plotline—until the story she was living unraveled.

Anne Gallagher has always lived by the book. Anne of Green Gables, that is. Growing up on Mackinac Island, she saw herself as her namesake: the same impulsive charm, the same wild imagination, even the same red hair (dyed, but still). She followed in Anne Shirley’s fictional footsteps, chasing dreams of teaching and writing, and falling for her very own storybook hero.

But when a string of real-life plot twists—a failing romance, a fight with the administration, and the sudden death of her beloved father—pulls her back to the island she once couldn’t wait to leave, Anne is forced to face a truth no story ever prepared her for. Sometimes, life doesn’t follow a script.

Back in the house she grew up in, Anne must confront her past and the people she left behind, including Joe Miller, the boy who once called her “The Pest.” It’s time to figure out what she wants and rewrite her story to create her own happy ending. Not the book version. The real one.

From the Publisher:

ANNE OF A DIFFERENT ISLAND Banner - Berkley

I enjoyed spending time with: The Shell House Detectives (Emylia Hall)-an e book bargain

#TheShellHouseDetectives #NetGalley

This is the first book in a Cornwall set mystery series featuring two characters with complex pasts. They are Ally and Jayden. Ally was widowed and misses her police officer husband deeply. Her daughter would like Ally to leave Cornwall to be with her in Australia; Ally is very ambivalent. Ally is an artist who creates works from the detritus that she finds on the beach. (She makes a relevant find there).

Jayden worked as a police officer who left the force after a tragedy. He is biracial and not sure if he fits into his wife’s community. Both of these characters are trying to keep their lives moving forward. Will solving a case help them to achieve their goals?

Ally’s husband Bill was haunted by one person’s death. When he arrested this man’s son, Bill offered to help him in the future. When this young man comes knocking on Ally’s door, she (regretfully) turns him away.

Events move forward and this young man is now in the hospital, gravely wounded. His grandmother and only support was not there for him when he got out of prison. Lewis Pascoe has an interaction with the couple that built a new home where his grandmother had been. These events set the scene for the novel.

I enjoyed the main characters in this book and was also interested to meet the people around them. There are many community members in the story so there is no lack of suspects. For example, there is the coffee shop worker and a recently divorced man who is trying to write a novel.

In addition to the mystery and the characters, Cornwall is also a strong presence in the book. Readers will be able to smell the sea, see the cliffs and walk along the shore.

All in all, this was a most enjoyable read. I recommend it to anyone who likes cozy mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 01 July 2023