Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

A look at the Trump-DeSantis rivalry, a witty tribute to “Murder on the Orient Express,” a memoir of open marriage and an epic Swedish novel in verse, among others.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2023/12/29/books/new-books-january.html

The best new crime fiction for January 2024 — a dark twist on the Australian dream

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-best-new-crime-fiction-for-january-2024-a-dark-twist-on-the-australian-dream-h3bfppz65

There are so many ways to learn about history and many different approaches. The author of this book looks at the White House gardens and how they have grown and changed along with the country.

This book has many illustrations that drew me in. The text moves through history starting with the 1790s (after the information at the front of the book). The garden’s story progresses through the 1990s and beyond.

Find out about what was happening in this garden during times as disparate as George Washington’s era, the Civil War period, the time of the Suffragettes, the days of Victory Gardens, the Kennedy Rose Garden’s creation and more leading to the present. 

This author knows her subject and includes much of interest in these pages. All The Presidents Gardens will be enjoyed by both gardeners and American history buffs. 

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

Four stars ****

Review

“McDowell’s entertaining look at the gardens at America’s premier residence illustrates the nation’s horticultural aspirations, trends, and history. . . . A thorough researcher, McDowell unearths little-known stories and vivid details to illuminate important personalities and provide insight into our gardening past. Often injecting wit, she explains how the White House has dealt with typical garden pests (raccoons who fish in water gardens) as well as atypical problems (e.g., helicopter winds or hosting 1,000 guests at a time). Resplendent with historical images, the work also includes plant lists and short bios of key White House gardeners. . . . [An] informative gem of a book.” —Library Journal

“History is often best learned from stories, and there are plenty of anecdotes here. . . . The writing is conversational and inviting, as one might find when visiting a garden with someone who knows it well. Photographs, line drawings, paintings, maps, and other documents add to the interesting stories. . . . a delightful and elucidating work.” —Booklist starred review​

“A delightful dig through White House gardens. [McDowell] plots their history from the Washington administration to the Obamas. . . . Her descriptions of the grounds and evolving garden tastes are complemented with a colorful array of illustrations. McDowell fills the book with juicy tidbits: the last cow to graze on the White House lawn (1912) was named Pauline Wayne; Herbert Hoover wanted ‘the help’ to seem invisible, so they hid behind hedges when he passed by.” —Publishers Weekly

“Given its timeless grace, the visitor today might think that the Rose Garden was always a part of the grounds of America’s first garden, but as Marta McDowell’s absorbing book drives home, the 18 acres around the executive mansion have been constantly tweaked, changed and replanted over the past two centuries.” —The Washington Post 

“Long may there be erudite and entertaining books like All the Presidents’ Gardens to enlighten and educate about American garden history.” —The American Gardener

#TheIslandSwimmer #NetGalley

Two things made me want to read this book. One was the cover; it just drew me in. The second thing was the author. I don’t live in the U.K. but I am well aware of Lorraine Kelly from magazine articles about her career. I think that this might be her first work of fiction.

So, how did she do? There were many things that I liked about this book. The settings brought Orkney to life. There was enough plot with a bit of suspense to keep a reader’s interest. Why did Evie feel that she could be exiled and blackmailed by her sister? Readers will also want to know what water and swimming mean to Evie. 

There were some very good characters. I think that readers will be drawn to Freya. She has not had an easy life but has made it to an existence that absolutely works for her.

What I liked less was that some of the difficult characters felt a bit one dimensional. There was much attention given to Cara’s misery and to Livy’s anger and acting out. These characters are Evie’s mother and sister. Do things get any better for them? Readers will have to find out for themselves by reading the book.

I look forward to seeing if Kelly writes more.

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

Pub date: 15 February 2024

ALSO THE RODERICK ALLEYN MYSTERIES VOLUME FOUR BY NGAIO MARSH

#TheBallatVersailles #NetGalley

Reading this book after not having read a title by this author for a while, I am reminded of the reasons for her success. She knows how to tell a story that engages the reader without asking anything in return except to sink in and enjoy the story.

This novel takes place in the late 1950s when things were (somewhat) different for women. Cotillions were still quite popular in some circles and invitations to balls were a coveted mark of belonging and status. Here is a story of several young women who agree to go to the first ball in Versailles that is inviting Americans, forty young women in all.

Readers meet Amelia, a college student with aspirations to become a lawyer. Her widowed mother convinces her to accept. There is Felicity, another college student, an overweight young woman who adores her studies at MIT. She agrees to please her parents. There is also a young women, Caroline, whose parents are prominent in the movie business and, finally, a young New Yorker, Samantha, whose father is quite rich and overprotective; she has a medical issue.

Peek into the lives of these characters pre Versailles. What will happen to them and their families as they get ready to go to France and once they are there? Readers will keep turning the pages to find out.

Anyone looking for a fun read with its peek at high society will, I think, enjoy this title. It was a perfect holiday read for me.

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

This title was published in November 2023.

For those in the U.S., the series is back on TV very soon

I love that this cozy/traditional mystery takes place in Brooklyn. So often books in this genre take place in small Midwest locales. What fun to be in an urban setting and still have a good story and one without excessive violence.

This book is part of the Spice Isle series, one of, but not the only, series by this author. It features Lyndsay, a woman who runs a delicious Caribbean bakery. She is excited about her pastries and a big, upcoming festival. All should be perfect except, of course, there is a murder; a reggae singer is killed. Readers will have fun (and be hungry) as they wait for the pieces to fall into place in this enjoyable read.

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

Four stars ****

There were six Mitford Sisters and now here is the sixth title in the historical mystery series about the family. Each title has been enjoyable as readers spend time with Louisa. She started as a domestic servant and now sleuths.

The book features Debo/Deborah the chatelaine of Chatsworth House and perhaps one of the least dramatic of the sisters. Think of Unity or Diana for example for contrast. Debo invites the family to visit. A psychic’s presence leads to an investigation of a murder in the past and one in the current book’s time (early 1940s).

This is the last book in the series. I recommend all of them to fans of historical fiction in general, and the Mitfords in particular.  

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

This title was published in January 2023