Christmas Crimes at The Mysterious Bookshop

by Otto Penzler (Edited by)

The Mysterious Bookshop is a wonderful place to visit in person. Luckily for those who can’t get there, Penzler publishes many titles. This time, he has collected seasonal stories that were first given to the store’s favored customers as a holiday gift. Now they can be read by bibliophiles everywhere.

Here are stories that follow three rules-they had to be seasonal, there needed to be a crime and, at least in part, must take place in a bookstore. From there, writers created their own engaging tales.

Some of the authors included in this volume are Lyndsay Faye, Ace Atkins, Laura Lippman, Ragnar Jonasson and Tom Mead. There are sure to be finds here for readers with varied tastes.

This book would make a perfect stocking stuffer. Penzler had indeed offered a gift to readers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers-Mysterious Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Each tale’s brevity makes it easy to dip into and out of the collection, and the mix of big names . . . with lesser-knowns offers a spirited survey of contemporary crime fiction.”
― Publishers Weekly

“The stories are all refreshingly good-natured and, in the spirit of the season, lean toward peace on earth and good will to most. A must for every mystery lover’s wish list.”
― Kirkus

A Shell House Detectives Mystery

by Emylia Hall

#TheRockpoolMurder3 #NetGalley

I very much like the Shell House Detectives series. This is the third title that I have read and I am already looking forward to the fourth which comes out in November.

Characters are well fleshed out. Readers are let into the lives of the two main ones, Ally and Jayden; they became detectives unexpectedly in the first novel. Ally is a widow who deeply grieves the loss of her husband Bill, a well-liked police officer. She is also an artist, a mother, a friend, and a woman who is considering a new relationship as well. Jayden was a city based police officer who left the force after a tragic incident. He came to Cornwall with his partner as he needed a change.

In addition to the characters, I love the visits to Cornwall. The seascape especially is well described.

In this entry the murder victim is music legend Baz. He had just published a revelatory biography that undoubtedly upset those who knew him. He is found dead, floating in a pool, on his 70th birthday weekend. There are many suspects in the party guests; they are relatives and those who were also in the music business. Each of them has a story and these are told.

Who killed Baz? Readers will want to know but I find that part of the pleasure in the Ally-Jayden stories is just as much about getting to be with them and those around them.

Very highly recommended to fans of traditional mysteries.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 19 March 2024

The others in the series:

I enjoyed spending time with: The Shell House Detectives (Emylia Hall)

The Harbour Lights Mystery (Emylia Hall)

The next one…

A Novel of Queen Elizabeth II and Her Beloved Corgi, Susan

by Eliza Knight

I have read a number of historical fiction titles that are about Princess/Queen Elizabeth and enjoyed them so I was quite excited about this book. It is by an author I already like. In fact, I purchased The Queen’s Faithful Companion even before I heard back reagarding my NetGalley request. (Thanks for the egalley to NetGalley and William Morrow. I now have two copies of this one.)

This was a very enjoyable read. It tells a story that many may know but with the addition of Susan. Susan was the first in a long line of corgis beloved by Elizabeth. Her presence adds to the fun of the book.

Readers also have the pleasure of meeting Hanna. She takes care of the dogs and gets to know Elizabeth well.

This book humanizes Elizabeth. After all, any dog lover has something in common with her.

It is easy to recommend this delightful read.

Pub date: 11 June 2024

From the Publisher

A Parisian summer romance from the BESTSELLING author of Summer at the Santorini Bookshop

by Rebecca Raisin

 #ALoveLettertoParis #NetGalley

Rebecca Raisin is a go to author when I need a bit of escape. This time I was excited to see that she set her story in Paris. What could be better? Oh yes, some romance.

All of the elements come together in this fun read. There are old love letters, new matchmakers and finding one’s soul mate. Again, what could be better?

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

Pub date: 08 July 2024

A Rip Through Time Novel

by Kelley Armstrong

Disturbing the Dead is the third entry in Armstrong’s fun time slip mysteries. For those have not dipped into this series…Murder detective Mallory Atkinson has been transported from the current day to Glasgow in the Victorian Era. She has (suspend disbelief) transformed and is a housemaid named Catriona Mitchell. She continues to investigate crimes.

Many know that the Victorians often attended seances. What will happen when Catriona attends one? It is a safe guess that there will be murder and mayhem. The fun is in watching the events unfold.

Recommended to those who enjoy mysteries and historical fiction.

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

Pub date: 07 May 2024

by Marie O’Regan; Paul Kane; C.L. Taylor; J. T. Ellison; David Bell; Sarah Hilary; Claire McGowan; Fiona Cummins; Angela Clarke; Alexandra Benedict; Susi Holliday; Tina Baker; Sam Carrington; Liz Mistry; Tom Mead

Thinking about buying a Christmas themed mystery book for someone you know…or yourself? Look no further. This is a fun anthology with a holiday flair.

Inside are 18 stories by many authors whose books I have enjoyed. Just a few of these writers are Belinda Bauer, David Bell, J T Ellison, Clare McGowan, and Tom Mead.

Some times a short story is just the right thing. For anyone who enjoys a quick read, dip in anywhere in this title. There are some gems.

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

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the Publisher

Julia Child has been having a fictional moment. She has been a detective in Paris in the new series by Colleen Cambridge and has been in a TV series as well. In The Secret War of Julia Child, Diana R. Chambers nimbly lets readers into Julia’s world.

In these pages, readers get a sense of how Julia felt about herself (too tall, for one), her parents, her hopes to do something with her life, her wishes for a relationship and more. Readers also find out about Julia’s experiences in WW II. She worked for “Wild” Bill Donovan and was stationed in India and Ceylon, among other places. Some of her work was clandestine. Some of it led to her meeting Paul Child-of course, Julia McWilliams became Julia Child in time.

This story is about much that happened before Child became known for her cooking. It offers an immersive look at her life and WWII. I recommend it highly to fans of Child and historical fiction.

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

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the Publisher

by Anne Janzer

 #TheCuriousReadersFieldGuidetoNonfiction #NetGalley

I was fascinated by this book which invites one to think about reading more (some) non fiction. Janzer notes that when she was an English major, the scholastic focus was mainly of varied forms of fiction. She notes, however, that non fiction offers much to readers and encourages exploring.

This book is organized as a field guide, taking cues from other types of field guides with which readers may be familiar. This leads to chapters that are interactive. For example, the first section invites assessing one’s reading patterns. Following through on the prompts will help readers to discover the books with which they would most like to spend time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Cuesta Park Consulting for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 22 October 2024

Lost Gardens of the World

An Atlas of Forgotten Horticultural Treasures

by Sandra Lawrence

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.

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Novel

by Elizabeth Strout

#TellMeEverything #NetGalley

Anyone who has read one book by Elizabeth Strout will surely read all of her others. I found this one to be a special treat because it brings together characters from earlier titles including (my favorite) Bob Burgess, Olive Kitteridge, Lucy Barton and others.

The prose is beautiful, the story is engaging and the visit to Crosby, Maine is most welcome. I was delighted to follow the challenges and relationships in this small community.

I find Strout to be such a wise author. This is definitely a book to add to a fiction lover’s TBR list.

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

Pub date: 10 September 2024