joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

#TheWindsorAffair #NetGalley

Historical Fiction

370 pages

Pub date: 02 June 2026

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description:

from the publisher

A scandalous affair. A power struggle for the throne. A sensational rivalry between an English queen and an American social climber. In this electrifying novel, the New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue tells the story of the Abdication of Edward VIII—and the two women at the center of it all.

“As deliciously dishy as an English cream tea and the royal gossip whispered over it!”—Kate Quinn, author of The Astral Library

Feuding Windsor brothers and their wives—some things, it seems, never change. The Windsor Affair recreates the cataclysmic events that nearly toppled the monarchy and incited the power struggle between Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Simpson. Told from the perspective of both women, the novel propels readers into the fabulous world of the debonair Prince of Wales, café society of the 1930s, and the glittering private lives of the Windsors. The first novel to be dedicated to this infamous rivalry, The Windsor Affair brings us all the gossip and intrigue between the two very different—yet perhaps more similar than they would admit—wives of royals.

As Queen, Elizabeth would become the symbol of British pluck and courage during World War II and remain a British institution the rest of her long life. Wallis would be forever forced to enact the World’s Greatest Love Story even after it sours, as she goes from being admired to vilified and, ultimately, pitied. Against the backdrop of the Abdication Crisis, World War II, coronations, funerals, births, and deaths, these two women maintain a biting, sharp-tongued feud—until age and the long arm of history bring about a kind of understanding. For the last communication between these bitter rivals was a simple, surprising message: “In friendship, Elizabeth.”

My thoughts:

Many are aware of the conflict between Princes Harry and William, and their wives. Of course, history often repeats itself and that is the case in some ways today. Because, of course, before Harry and William, there were David and Bertie, two brothers with wives who also did not like each other. In each of these eras, important decisions were made that affected the monarchy and the personal lives of family members.

In this book, Benjamin very enjoyably tells the stories of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Wallis Warfield Simpson and those around them. Their experiences growing up were so different as were their fates. Wallis grew up poor and wanted security. Elizabeth grew up secure and was not seeking to become Queen. Yet as each married a Windsor brother their lives were set on a course. There were trying times ahead for both.

Even those who think that they know a lot about these historical personages will find much to like in these pages. They will leave the book understanding more about the women’s relationships, responsibilities and decisions.

It is easy to recommend this title to those who enjoy historical fiction and/or those who enjoy stories about British royalty.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher:

Two Women. One Throne. The scandal that nearly toppled the crown.

“Benjamin’s finest book to date,” says Renee Rosen

“Historical fiction has never so much fun,” says Abbott Kahler

“Juicy, scandalous,” says Kim Michele Richardson

From Library Journal:

VERDICT Both a sweeping account of nearly a century of royal history and an intimate look into the characters of the two women at the center of it all, this will please readers who enjoyed Benjamin’s previous novels or those who can’t get enough of the drama of the House of Windsor.

Now out-The Masala Chai Mystery Club by MJ Soni

#TheMasalaChaiMysteryClub #NetGalley

The cover of this traditional mystery appealed to me and made me want to find out what happened in the story within its pages. It offered an enjoyable read highlighted by lots of delicious sounding Masala Chai and yummy snacks, along with some Shakespearean quotes and other book references.

Soni’s book may be compared to something like The Thursday Murder Club because it features a group of sleuths within a closed community. They are amateurs who readers know will find out what is going on. They have the help of one police officer much as The Thursday Murder Club had Donna on their side.

A man, Rohit, has been killed. He was disliked by many but, of course, this does not make his death okay. Neeti has known Rohit for many years and owes him for something big that he did for her in the past. Neeti wants to investigate as she does not believe that his death was natural. Having just read Dumb Witness, she also wonders if Rohit’s dog will help to solve the case. So, she forms the Masala Chai Murder Club.

Helping Neeti are her best friend Peggy, Peggy’s husband, and her niece Myra. (Myra also has a precocious young son but he is a bit young to be a detective.) The group follows where the clues lead which is largely to members of the community’s HOA.

This book is worth a look for those who enjoy traditional mysteries that do not feature overt gore. It is refreshing to have a protagonist from India as the main character and readers meet others of color in this story. I think that Neeti will be back for another case in the future.

One niggle: The Agatha Christie book is referred to as The Dumb Witness. I believe it is titled just Dumb Witness.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 21 July 2026

Post first published on 28 March 2026

Description:

from the publisher

Suspects abound when a much-despised neighbor is killed, perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building and Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club.

Retired librarian Neeti Shah was hoping for a restful life with her chai-loving friends, but when the body of a neighbor, a childhood friend of Neeti’s, turns up dead and the killer’s MO is similar to that of Neeti’s most recent book club read, things start to get out of control.

When Neeti hears a commotion at a neighbor’s house, she finds Rohit’s body sprawled across the bottom of the staircase with Agatha Christie’s The Dumb Witness nearby. Blackmailing his neighbors, threatening them with lawsuits, and calling them by nasty nicknames were only some of the hateful things that made him so disliked. But were they angry enough to kill?

Neeti is indebted to her old friend, and she’s determined to find his killer. But she can’t do it alone, so she enlists her mystery-loving friends, the Masala Chai Mystery Club, to get to the bottom of the murder.

But Neeti and her club members need to be careful. As more bodies turn up and more suspects start to appear, they’ll need to find the killer before they end up in hot water!

Now out-Death at King’s Cross by Rosanne Limoncelli

#DeathatKingsCross #NetGalley

Mystery & Thrillers-Historical Fiction

326 pages

Pub date: 21 July 2026

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My thoughts:

The Four Queens of Crime were among the very best of the best writers of detective fiction’s Golden Age. They were Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh. Anyone who loves classic crime stories knows their names and all serious mystery readers have a treat in store for them if, somehow, these authors passed them by.

Limoncelli has included these four as key characters in two books, of which this is the second. She also includes an historical personage in Lilian Wyles, a police inspector. I thought the first book was very good and found this second title to be even better.

In this story set during WWII much happens. There is murder, at least one missing person, stolen pharmaceuticals, spies and many suspicious activities. There are also friendships and other relationships.Everything comes together in a crackerjack plot.

I highly recommend this title to those who enjoy historical mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Description:

from the publisher

DCI Lilian Wyles is confronted by a troubling case, one that only the four queens of crime can help solve—even amidst the ongoing war efforts.

Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh are back in the follow-up novel to The Four Queens of Crime.

1941, London. When DCI Lilian Wyles finds a young woman murdered at King’s Cross Station, she needs the help of someone she can trust, but Richard Davidson, her former Scotland Yard partner, has joined MI5 and is busy tracking black market routes outside of London, so for now, she is on her own.

After having met the four queens of crime during a murder investigation two years earlier, DCI Wyles has kept in touch. But Agatha, Dorothy, Margery, and Ngaio are all involved in the war effort and have problems of their own.

Agatha is volunteering at the University Hospital Pharmacy, where a dangerous anesthetic has been stolen. Dorothy has heard unsettling information from her connections at the BBC regarding members of the Royal Navy. Margery, who has been in the countryside helping families escape the city from the bombing, is worried about one of her charges whose older sister has gone missing. And Ngaio, who has relocated to New Zealand and is volunteering as an ambulance driver, has begun gathering secret intelligence from wounded soldiers and sailors that may put her in danger.

When the four queens contact DCI Wyles for help, the information they share makes the final pieces of the puzzle fall into place. DCI Wyles once again finds herself collaborating with her old partners in crime to solve the mystery and close the case in this thrilling sequel, perfect for fans of Nicola Upson and Anna Lee Huber.

Editorial Reviews:

“An intricate and tense whodunit . . . Fans of British historicals will appreciate the challenge.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Limoncelli skillfully handles bringing four iconic mystery writers to life, as well as highlighting women pioneers in law enforcement . . . This twisty mystery delivers.”
—Library Journal

“London and the English countryside in 1941 are vividly brought to life . . . Limoncelli skillfully weaves facts and fiction to create an exceptional, page-turning historical mystery.”
—Booklist

A Study in Sparkling by Jodi McAlister

384 pages

Romance

Three stars***

Pub date: 15 September 2026

My thoughts:

Imagine getting married young, and with the baby on the way. Nonetheless, you love your husband and have high hopes for the marriage. You go on to have two more children, your twins. While it is true that all marriages have stress points, you definitely weren’t seeing this one coming.

Imagine that you run a wine bar. You’re very proud of it but find it stressful to have your older brother interfering all the time. Your goal is to take a master sommelier qualification. Will you be able to do it?

Imagine that these two meet, each with their baggage, and that he is considerably younger than she and has no children. Can they have a relationship? will things work out for the? Trust the author to let you know while providing an enjoyable read.

I would note that, to me, this book was pretty spicy. Keep this in mind while deciding if it is for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for this title. All thoughts on my own.

Post first published on 22 July 2026

Description:

The author of the “brilliant” (Library Journal) An Academic Affair proves that the best love stories start with a pop with this sizzling romance about a recently separated single mom who’s absolutely not looking for another relationship…only to fall for the younger owner of her favorite wine bar.

Fiona Fisher thought she had it all: a loving husband, three kids, and a life far away from the suffocating expectations of her family. But when her husband reveals that he’s leaving her for his secret second family, Fiona is left devastated and humiliated.

Satoshi Tsukamoto wants it all. He’s the owner of a popular wine bar, and he’s studying for the hardest test in the world: the Master Sommelier exam. There aren’t enough hours in the day for anything else—except maybe for Fiona, his favorite customer, and the woman he’s absolutely, catastrophically in love with.

On paper, Fiona and Satoshi make no sense. He’s eight years younger than her and has no time for romance. She’s a single mother and doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to trust anyone again. But how can Fiona resist when Satoshi suggests they give into their mutual attraction and let off some steam? And how can Satoshi resist when the woman he adores is finally within his grasp—even if they’ve agreed to keep things casual?

The perfect read for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Abby Jimenez, A Study in Sparkling proves that Jodi McAlister truly is “a writer to watch” (Booklist).

Editorial Reviews:

“This carefully crafted and effervescent contemporary romance balances a woman’s inner journey with a tender love story.”
—Kirkus (starred review)

“This refreshing standalone, a Tasmania-set contemporary from McAlister (An Academic Affair), revitalizes the friends-with-benefits trope…Steamy moments build quickly, even as subplots explore what’s next in both characters’ lives: a challenging sommelier exam for Sato and a new career in writing for Fiona. The fun, spicy dynamic between the appealing leads keeps the pages flying. Readers are sure to root for these two.”
—Publishers Weekly

“In this expansion of the world that began with An Academic Affair, Jodi McAlister flawlessly combines wit, steaminess, and heartwarming family dynamics to deliver an engrossing romance that’s a testament to her skillful storytelling. This is a book you’ll want to sink into.”
—Lydia San Andres, author of Only Friends

“A beautiful champagne pop of a novel, this is romance at its finest.”
—Nina Kenwood, author of The Wedding Forecast

About the Author:

Jodi McAlister, PhD, is an author and academic from Kiama, Australia. She is the author of An Academic Affair and the Marry Me Juliet trilogy. She is currently a senior lecturer in writing, literature, and culture at Deakin University in Melbourne and is the president of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance. For more, visit JodiMcAlister.com.au or find her on Instagram @JodiMcAlister.

From the Publisher

Rom-com; age gap; second chances; queer representation; Single motherhood; academic romance;

The Hidden Library by Sharon Gosling

#TheHiddenLibrary #NetGalley

368 pages

Women’s fiction-Romance-Mystery

Pub date: 15 September 2026

Four stars ****

My thoughts:

I had previously read and enjoyed this author’s novel, The Forgotten Garden. I was delighted to have a chance to read her newest book. This one seemed a bit different to me but that is no bad thing.

When the story opens, life could not be better for Helen. Her novel has been published and is going to be on the screen, but then…something happens that leads to Helen needing an escape. Helen’s mother suggests that she could be of help to her. This will entail Helen going to a small and remote island to catalogue the books and more of the recently deceased Cy. The job is appropriate for Helen who has library and rare book skills.

Also on the island is a gardener/caretaker, a housekeeper and the housekeeper’s somewhat surly teen daughter. Helen connects with them all and also with a couple of mysterious men who visit. Which one of them can be trusted?

With its setting described in a way that makes the reader feel it, the characters, and the book references (something will be important), this novel offers an engaging read. Those who pick it up will be waiting for a happy ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for this title. All opinions are my own.

Post first published on 21 July 2026

Description:

from the publisher

A heartwarming mystery filled with books, secrets and second chances, perfect for fans of Freya Sampson, Evie Woods and Sally Page – and everyone who loves books about books.

Sometimes the right story leads you home . . .

When bestselling author Helen finds herself at the centre of a scandal, she escapes to Rathbrooke Hall on a remote island off the Northumberland coast. Tasked with cataloguing the books of a reclusive collector she’s relieved to be out of the glare of publicity, even if the locals are less than welcoming.

But as she spends more time among the dusty bookshelves and rare first editions, she uncovers clues to a secret collection of books that could save the island – and the community that she’s begun to feel part of. Can she unravel the mystery of the hidden library and can she trust Thiago, a charming librarian with secrets of his own?

Praise for Sharon Gosling’s The Forest Hideaway

‘Ethereal and enchanting. I loved it!’ Heidi Swain, All Wrapped Up

‘Aching romance’ Woman’s Weekly

‘Unusual, absorbing and engaging . . . A fascinating novel’ Rachel Hore, The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge

‘Full of hope, friendship and new beginnings – the perfect autumn escape’ Holly Martin, The Cottage on Christmas Gardens

‘Evocative and atmospheric . . . a beautifully depicted story about hope, connection, and not giving up on your dreams’ Holly Miller, The Spark

‘An uplifting and atmospheric tale’ heat