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!

Intrigue in the City of Lights: The Kennedy Girl

A Novel

by Julia Bryan Thomas

I was first drawn to this title by its cover. Key elements of the story are here including the city of Paris, a young woman and some diamonds. I was curious as to how everything would unfold.

This book establishes its espionage theme from the beginning. There is a literal bang early on when Mia shoots someone. How did she get to this moment? The novel goes back and shows readers in this Cold War set story.

Mia was working in a bakery in New York and coping with the loss of her father. Her life was pretty quiet. One day, a man named Theo, engaged her in conversation. Theo invited Mia to come to Paris where she would train to be a model at the House of Rousseau. Mia who idolized Jackie Kennedy, and knew of her time in Paris, was intrigued. She did not hesitate for long before finding herself flying to France.

Mia interacts with many people in the pages that follow. She has two roommates, a woman in her building who is “of a certain age,” the woman who tutored and mentored her when she arrived and, a CIA agent, among others.

How did Mia’s life get so out of control? Why has she been recruited? Will she survive? Will Mia find happiness? Read this one to find out.

Recommended to those who like historical fiction from the not so distant past, those who are intrigued by the Cold War, and those who love Paris and fashion. I enjoyed this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 14 January 2024

From the Publisher

Jackie Kennedy is no longer the only woman for whom fashion and politics collide...
"Espionage fans, francophiles, and devotees of Netflix's Emily in Paris will enjoy this..."

The author’s earlier book

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The Daily Buddhist

366 Days of Wisdom for Happiness, Inner Freedom, and Mindful Living

#TheDailyBuddhist #NetGalley

This book rewards the careful reader who is willing to reflect on each day’s entry. There are reminders of important values that a person might sometimes forget. For example, readers are asked to consider what is ephemeral in life (for example possessions) and are encouraged to think to what truly matters.

With an entry for every day of the year, there is much to contemplate. There are sections in this book with the referenced topics including Life and Death; Looking Inward, Extending Outward, and Practice. Readers who spend time with the introduction, sections at the end of the book, and the messages for each day will feel that they have been offered much wisdom.

Recommended for those who are interested in Buddhism and those who want to try to live a responsible and satisfying life.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow-Harvest for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 27 May 2025

READERS NOTE: I WILL REMIND YOU ABOUT THIS TITLE WHEN IT IS PUBLISHED.

Edgar Nominations

MWA Announces the 2025 Edgar Award Nominations

by MWA · January 22, 2025

Mystery Writers of America Announces 2025 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominations

2025 Edgar Awards Nominations

January 22, 2025, New York, NY – Mystery Writers of America is proud to announce, as we celebrate the 216th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe, the nominees for the 2025 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, nonfiction and television published or produced in 2024. The 79th Annual Edgar® Awards will be celebrated on May 1, 2025, at the New York Marriott Marquis Times Square.

BEST NOVEL

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (Penguin Random House – Random House Worlds/Del Rey
Rough Trade by Katrina Carrasco (Farrar, Straus and Giroux – MCD)
Things Don’t Break on Their Own by Sarah Easter Collins (Penguin Random House – Crown)
My Favorite Scar by Nicolás Ferraro (Soho Press – Soho Crime)
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (Penguin Random House – Riverhead Books)
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera (Macmillan Publishers – Celadon Books)
The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell (Penguin Random House – Doubleday)

BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR

Twice the Trouble by Ash Clifton (Crooked Lane Books)
Cold to the Touch by Kerri Hakoda (Crooked Lane Books)
The Mechanics of Memory by Audrey Lee (CamCat Books)
A Jewel in the Crown by David Lewis (Kensington Books – A John Scognamiglio Book)
The President’s Lawyer by Lawrence Robbins (Simon & Schuster – Atria Books)
Holy City by Henry Wise (Grove Atlantic – Atlantic Monthly Press)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle (Harlequin Trade Publishing – Park Row Books)
The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass (Harlequin Trade Publishing – Graydon House)
Shell Games by Bonnie Kistler (HarperCollins – Harper Paperbacks)
A Forgotten Kill by Isabella Maldonado (Amazon Publishing – Thomas & Mercer)
The Road to Heaven by Alexis Stefanovich-Thomson (Dundurn Press Ltd.)

BEST FACT CRIME

Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers by Frank Figliuzzi (HarperCollins – Mariner Books)

The Infernal Machine: A True Story of Dynamite, Terror, and the Rise of the Modern Detective by Steven Johnson (Penguin Random House – Crown)

A Devil Went Down to Georgia: Race, Power, Privilege, and the Murder of Lita McClinton by Deb Miller Landau (Pegasus Books – Pegasus Crime)

The Amish Wife: Unraveling the Lies, Secrets, and Conspiracy that Let a Killer Go Free by Gregg Olsen (Amazon Publishing – Thomas & Mercer)

Hell Put to Shame: The 1921 Murder Farm Massacre and the Horror of America’s Second Slavery by Earl Swift (HarperCollins – Mariner Books)

The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age by Michael Wolraich (Union Square & Co.)

BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL

James Sallis: A Companion to the Mystery Fiction by Nathan Ashman (McFarland Publishing)

American Noir Film: From The Maltese Falcon to Gone Girl by M. Keith Booker (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers)

Organized Crime on Page and Screen: Portrayals in Hit Novels, Films, and Television Shows by David Geherin (McFarland Publishing)

On Edge: Gender and Genre in the Work of Shirley Jackson, Patricia Highsmith, and Leigh Brackett by Ashley Lawson (The Ohio State University Press)

Ian Fleming; The Complete Man by Nicholas Shakespeare (HarperCollins – Harper)

BEST SHORT STORY

“Cut and Thirst,” Amazon Original Stories by Margaret Atwood (Amazon Publishing)
“Everywhere You Look,” Amazon Original Stories by Liv Constantine (Amazon Publishing)
“Eat My Moose,” Conjunctions: 82, Works & Days by Erika Krouse (Bard College)
“Barriers to Entry,” Amazon Original Stories by Ariel Lawhon (Amazon Publishing)
“The Art of Cruel Embroidery,” Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine – July-August 2024 by Steven Sheil (Dell Magazine)

BEST JUVENILE

The Beanstalk Murder by P.G. Bell (Macmillan Publishers – Feiwel & Friends)
Mystery of Mystic Mountain by Janet Fox (Simon & Schuster BFYR)
Mysteries of Trash and Treasure: The Stolen Key by Margaret Peterson Haddix (HarperCollins – Quill Tree Books)
The Spindle of Fate by Aimee Lim (Macmillan Publishers – Feiwel & Friends)
Find Her by Ginger Reno (Holiday House)
 
BEST YOUNG ADULT

Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell (HarperCollins – Heartdrum)
The Bitter End by Alexa Donne (Random House Books for Young Readers)
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur (Macmillan Publishers – Feiwel & Friends)
Death at Morning House by Maureen Johnson (HarperCollins Publishers – Harper Teen)
49 Miles Alone by Natalie D. Richards (Sourcebooks – Sourcebooks Fire)

BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY

“Episode Five” – Rebus, Written by Gregory Burke (Viaplay)
“Episode One” – Monsieur Spade, Written by Tom Fontana & Scott Frank (AMC)
“Episode One” – Moonflower Murders, Written by Anthony Horowitz (Masterpiece PBS)
“Mirror” – Murderesses, Written by Wiktor Piatkowski, Joanna Kozłowska, Katarzyna Kaczmarek (Viaplay)
“Episode Two” – The Marlow Murder Club, Written by Robert Thorogood (Masterpiece PBS)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

OUR OTHER AWARDS

ROBERT L. FISH MEMORIAL AWARD – Endowed by the family of Robert L. Fish.

“The Legend of Penny and the Luck of the Draw Casino,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, May-June 2024 by Pat Gaudet (Dell Magazines)
“Head Start,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, September-October 2024 by Kai Lovelace (Dell Magazines)
“Murder Under Sedation,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, March-April 2024 by Lawrence Ong (Dell Magazines)
“The Jews on Elm Street,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, September-October 2024 by Anna Stolley Persky (Dell Magazines)
“Sparrow Maker,” Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, November-December 2024 by Jake Stein (Dell Magazines)

THE SIMON & SCHUSTER MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD – Presented on behalf of Simon & Schuster.

The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen (Amazon Publishing – Lake Union)
The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard (Macmillan Publishers – Minotaur Books)
The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill (Sourcebooks – Poisoned Pen Press)
Return to Wyldcliffe Heights by Carol Goodman (HarperCollins – William Morrow Paperbacks)
Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen (Crooked Lane Books)

THE G.P. PUTNAM’S SONS SUE GRAFTON MEMORIAL AWARD – Presented on behalf of G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong (Macmillan Publishers – Minotaur Books)
A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh (Sourcebooks – Sourcebooks Landmark)
Proof by Beverly McLachlin (Simon & Schuster Canada – Simon & Schuster)
A World of Hurt by Mindy Mejia (Grove Atlantic – Atlantic Monthly Press)
All the Way Gone by Joanna Schaffhausen (Macmillan Publishers – Minotaur Books)
The Comfort of Ghosts by Jacqueline Winspear (Soho Press – Soho Crime)

THE LILIAN JACKSON BRAUN MEMORIAL AWARD – Endowed by the estate of Lilian Jackson Braun.

The Murders in Great Diddling by Katarina Bivald (Sourcebooks – Poisoned Pen Press)
Death and Fromage by Ian Moore (Sourcebooks – Poisoned Pen Press)
Booked for Murder by P.J. Nelson (Macmillan Publishers – Minotaur Books)
Murder on Devil’s Pond by Ayla Rose (Crooked Lane Books)
The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan (Grove Atlantic – Atlantic Monthly Press)

SPECIAL AWARDS – PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED ON JANUARY 15, 2025

GRAND MASTER

Laura Lippman
John Sandford

RAVEN AWARD

Face in a Book Bookstore & Gifts, El Dorado Hills, CA

ELLERY QUEEN AWARD

Peter Wolverton, Vice President, Executive Editor, St. Martin’s Press

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Edgar Awards, or “Edgars,” as they are commonly known, are named after MWA’s patron saint Edgar Allan Poe and are presented to authors of distinguished work in various categories. MWA is the premier organization for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers, and those who are devoted to the genre. The organization encompasses some 3,000 members including authors of fiction and non-fiction books, screen and television writers, as well as publishers, editors, and literary agents.

Mystery Writers of America would like to emphasize our commitment to diversity and fairness in the judging of the Edgar Awards. Judges are selected from every region of the country, from every sub-category of our genre, and from every demographic to ensure fairness and impartiality.

# # #

The EDGAR (and logo) are Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by the Mystery Writers of America, Inc.

Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow

This is the second book in this author’s series. It will be enjoyed by readers who like mysteries that are not too violent and stories with good characters and plots. And, of course, it will be enjoyed by those who like bakeries and a bit of magical realism. All in all, a good read.

A bit on plot: Baker Felicity has been making egg tarts for the wedding cake at an outdoor wedding. All goes well, until it doesn’t. There are a missing groomsman and a groom who meet their fates.

There will be sleuthing and a mystery solved by the end of this enjoyable story.

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

Pub date: 21 January 2025

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the Magical Fortune Cookie series and Jennifer J. Chow:

“Good things lie ahead in this series.” ―Kirkus Reviews

An e book bargain-Enjoy a visit to the: Lost Gardens of the World

An Atlas of Forgotten Horticultural Treasures

by Sandra Lawrence

#LostGardensoftheWorld #NetGalley

Garden lovers will enjoy dipping into this collection which features 40 gardens that have, for varied reasons, been lost. For each of these, there is beautifully evocative artwork to help readers imagine the garden in it glory. The text further details what made each of these places special.

These gardens were once found all around the world. Readers travel to The Garden of Dreams, Little Acorns, Warley Place, Bachs of Khajuaro, Gardens of the Nations, Madinat al-Zahra, Wah Bagh and these are just a few of the places.

This would make a lovely addition to the library of a garden lover! The author makes a wonderful guide. She has loved gardens ever since she became a reader of Frances Hodgson Burnett.

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

Pub date: 01 October 2024

From the Publisher

Lost Gardens
Lost Gardens
Lost Gardens pages
Lost Gardens banner

Now Out: Let’s Call Her Barbie

by Renée Rosen

#LetsCallHerBarbie #NetGalley

Barbie…just the name is enough to form the picture of this her in the reader’s mind. She is a doll that has both been embraced and vilified, perhaps even both at the same time for some. Now, she is so much a part of popular culture, it is difficult to remember that once there was no Barbie.

Author Renee Rosen has written a detailed, intriguing and complex story about Barbie and her creators. She has brought the historical people to life, especially Ruth and Jack (more below), Elliot and Charlotte, to name a few. She also has created fictional characters including Stevie who interacts with all of the historical figures.

I learned so much about the toy industry, how toys go from plans to reality and how this applied specifically to Barbie, in these pages. Ruth had a vision and it took her and engineer Jack much work and many years before Barbie was brought to the market. It is intriguing that Ruth saw Barbie as a source of freedom for girls. She wanted them to have a doll that offered more to them than imagining becoming a mother and wife.

It was intriguing to think of the real fashion designers who made the clothes and why Barbie has her dimensions. It was fascinating to find out how many tries it took to get Barbie just right.

Both Ruth and Jack were quite complex individuals. Readers learn that Ruth’s mother did not want to raise her. They find why work was so critical for Ruth and the ways in which this impacted her children and husband. Jack, also was complicated. Readers learn that he had some mental health issues with which to struggle.

Over the course of the novel, readers learn about both the triumphs and lows of these characters so that is there is no fairy tale. All of this is part of the characters’ life stories.

In her afterword, Rosen notes that she had wanted to write this novel before the Barbie movie was released. The movie will undoubtedly bring readers to this novel but, in my opinion, this excellent book stands very well on its own.

Highly recommended to readers of historical and women’s fiction. Of course, those who are already interested in Barbie will flock to this but, even if a reader is not a Barbie aficionado, there is much in these pages.

I was so delighted to be asked to read and review this title. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 21 January 2024

Five stars *****

From the Publisher

Fresh and fun, says Shelby Van Pelt
Delightful, fast-paced, compassionate, and well-researched, says Elizabeth Letts
Bold, tenacious, resolute, says Karma Brown

How will things end if: She Doesn’t Have a Clue (Jenny Elder Moke)

The cover of this book is filled with clues that let a reader know what is inside. If a reader likes the cover, they will, I think, like the story that is inside.

So, pictured here are isolated real estate, letters, and a couple, all of which will be featured in the pages of this novel. The people are Kate and a man who is important to her. The envelope holds an invitation to a wedding. The real estate is for the destination wedding. Will everything go smoothly? Certainly not for a while.

Kate has agreed to attend her ex’s wedding. Events most clearly do not go according to plan. As readers quickly learn, the bride has been murdered. Kate needs to figure things out, after all, she is a mystery writer as well as having personal connections here. One of these connections is a past romantic regret.

Readers are offered both mystery and romance in this book that has liberal doses of both. It is told in a somewhat breezy style. Those looking for a light read might want to give this hybrid a look.

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

Pub date: 21 January 2025

Why not spend: Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop-an e bookbargain

#MidnightattheChristmasBookshop #NetGalley

Jenny Colgan is a mistress of her craft. She writes the kinds of books that readers hope for, especially when they are feeling stressed. This new book offers so much to enjoy. There is a wonderful Scottish setting, good characters and a bookshop! Of course, there is also romance and the holiday season. What more could possibly be needed?

Make this book a gift to yourself as the nights get longer. It will offer you the perfect escape.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon-Harper Voyager for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 October 2023