Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

An e book bargain

I am always delighted to settle in for another visit with Rowly, Edna, Clyde and Milton. Each of these characters is eccentric and interesting. We have an aristocrat, an artist, a poet and an artisan. Together they form a formidable quartet.

The Rowland Sinclair mysteries take place in the run up to WWII and in a world that feels rather ominous. Ms. Gentill always does her research and brings authenticity to both the setting and the background history of her stories. This time, I learned about Chiang Kai Shek, those who were pro or anti-Communist and the troubled relations between Japan and China. This history adds verisimilitude to the story.

The story begins as Rowly’s brother ( a more conventional sort) wants to send him and his friends to Shanghai to meet with those who may want to purchase Sinclair wool. Rowly is firmly instructed to equivocate in all of his business dealings. Can he?

The Shanghai that the protagonists visit is depicted as a city of immigrants and locals with many classes and nationalities in its society. For example, Rowly has a Chinese butler and an Indian driver.

As readers of the series know, where Rowly goes, trouble follows. In this novel, he meets a “taxi girl” named Sasha. She is reputedly from the Russian aristocracy. Alexandra now sells dances with her to those at the Cathay Hotel. This is quite a step down from her former life in her own country. Rowly dances with her…when the worst happens to Sasha and she is found dead in Rowly’s hotel room, there is a case to be solved.

This is an intricate and involving story. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I do think, though, that many readers will want to explore all of the titles after they finish this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

#MyFirstStoryOrchestraSwanLake #NetGalley

This title , which is beautifully illustrated, tells the story of Swan Lake in the simplest terms. What makes the hard copy of this book special is that a child can hear excerpts from the music.

A nice title for a young child. There are others in the series.

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

Pub date: 03 September 2024

#CharlotteIllesIsNotaTeacher #NetGalley

Charlotte Illes was once a child sleuth who had much success. Sometimes, as a person in her twenties, she wants to leave that identity behind. However, as readers of the first book in the series know, that does not seem to work out for her.

Charlotte and her friends (Lucy and Gabe) are back in this sparky and fun story. This time, Charlotte becomes a substitute teacher at her old middle school. Once again, she will be drawn into events that require her skill.

This title offers a fun and quick read. It is a “New Adult” title but older readers may enjoy it as well. It is easy to recommend this one.

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

Pub date: 23 July 2024

An e book bargain

Those who have read The Scarlet Letter, no doubt remember Hester Prynne. I can’t help but feel that the book would make an interesting reread in this time of MeToo.

In this novel, author Albanese, offers a twist of the kaleidoscope variation on that book. Here readers meet a young woman with synesthesia who emigrates to the U.S. with her husband. Isobel meets Nathaniel Hawthorne, the author of The Scarlet Letter. They are brought together with intensity.

Readers will long remember Isobel. She is a risk taker, a woman of action who acts upon her strong beliefs.

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

Pub date: 04 October 2022

From the Publisher

Named a Most Anticipated Book for Fall by Goodreads • Washington Post • New York Post • BuzzFeed • PopSugar • Business Insider • An October Indie Next List Pick • An October LibraryReads Pick

Starting out, know that this is one of the very best of Marian Keyes’s novels. It is engaging and absorbing. The characters are so alive and the pages turn quickly. Note, too, that in this novel, Ms. Keyes takes on some big themes including addiction, relationships and SPOILER BELOW

stillbirth, along with much else.

Ms. Keyes writes like a true insider here. Her descriptions of what it means to lose a much longed for baby ring so true. Anyone who has had to deal with infertility, miscarriage or pregnancy loss will know just how authentically the experience is described. Those who have not had these woes will certainly develop empathy for those who have.

SPOILER ENDED

Rachel works at a treatment center. Anyone who wonders what goes on when addicts are facing their actions and lives will learn a great deal. This could be very helpful to anyone who has a loved one who has needed such care. These sections give a real “fly on the wall” feeling.

Now, be clear that this is a wonderfully involving novel with good story lines. It is by no means a didactic title.

Rachel and those around her first became known to readers through Rachel’s Holiday, a novel that was published twenty years or so ago. Fans of that title will be delighted to see Rachel again. Those who have not read that book, no worries. It is very easy to step into the lives of this clan.

As the story opens, Rachel’s life seems to be going well. But, of course, there will be challenges. Readers will be hoping for all the best for Rachel. She is a character that it is easy to love.

Order this. It is such a good book. I highly recommend it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Some other opinions:

“A witty and warm-hearted sequel. . . .  Effortlessly segueing from tragedy to comedy. . . . A novel replete with beautifully well-rounded secondary characters. . . . Again, Rachel has all of Keyes’s trademark wit, humour and whip-smart dialogue, but it’s also a novel teeming with compassion and redemption.” —The Observer

“Simply superb. . . . [Keyes] is hands down the funniest writer in the business.” —The Irish Times

“Keyes delivers punchy home truths with wit and charm. . . . Keyes’s beady-eyed observations and sparky, sweary dialogue . . . lighten another agonisingly painful story. There is a real genius to the way Keyes brings deep, awful truths to the surface. The plotting is more skillfully turned than in Rachel’s Holiday, and Keyes’s ability to keep the balance between realism and fantasy works like a kind of fairy charm. . . . Keyes has mastered the art of writing books that read like treats, but turn out to be good for you.” —The Telegraph

“Assured, wise and witty with superb observational detail, the characters and dialogue are so on point that reading Marian Keyes is like being cradled in safe arms. . . . Keyes fans won’t be disappointed and this is destined to be as successful as its forerunner.” —Woman & Home

“Rachel’s recovery storyline . . . is expertly crafted, as Keyes delves into what happens when a loss is so overwhelming that your usual support systems stop providing comfort. That portrait of grief, in particular the challenge it poses to those in recovery, is rendered with great compassion and acute emotional honesty.” —Independent (Irelan

#TheRedHouseMystery #NetGalley

Yes, it is that Milne! What many may not know is that the author of the Winnie-the-Pooh stories also tried his hand at detective fiction. It is a shame that he only wrote one story since, as it turns out, he was pretty good at it!

This is a classic, country house mystery. There are a murder, many suspects, a prodigal brother’s return, an amateur detective (and his friend) and more than enough to keep the pages turning. There is even some humor.

It is very easy to recommend this reissue to fans of the Golden Age of Detective fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press-Pushkin Vertigo for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 03 September 2024

#VillagePoliticsCanBeMurder #NetGalley

Dorothy Martin, Anglophile to her core, is back in the 26th entry in Martin’s series that features the ex-pat of a certain age and her husband, retired Chief Constable Alan Nesbitt. This time the two are in the scenic Lake District where some very un-scenic events, including murder, have transpired. Readers can rest assured that the case will be solved in a fair play story that features multiple suspects (and some good meals) and a lot of sleuthing, both amateur and professional.

Those who enjoy traditional mysteries will enjoy this one. It can be read without having made one’s way through all of the other titles. That said, the backlist is one that can also be enjoyed.

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

Pub date: 04 June 2024

Want to indulge in juicy, page-turning escapism? We’ve got some recommendations.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2024/07/04/books/review/new-beach-reads.html

The books in this month’s column have something in common: unforgettable main characters.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2024/06/30/books/review/new-crime-novels.html

#TheBotanicGarden #NetGalley

Right now it is very hot and steamy where I live. What better way to escape the misery than to visit some gardens virtually. There are twenty-seven destinations in these pages and my local garden is even included.

Begin with the detailed and informative introduction and then travel to Oxford, Berlin, Singapore, Missouri, New York, Mauritius, Belize and more locales in these pages. Each entry is packed with information and illustrations.

I now feel even more strongly that whenever I travel, I will look for local gardens. This book will be enjoyed by all who love what nature provides.

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

Pub date: 27 August 2024