by Ann Parker

The Secret in the Wall is the eighth entry in Ms. Parker’s Silver Rush series of historical mysteries. It is published by my favorite Poisoned Pen, an excellent source of mystery fiction.

Readers (re)meet Inez Stannert, an independent woman, who has had an adventurous life. In this entry, Inez begins caring for Antonia whose mother has died. Antonia is not an easy young lady to parent as Inez discovers.

And, of course, more happens in this story. How about a dead body? How about a packet of gold coins? Who is the victim? What happened? Why? Pick this one up to find out.

Those who enjoy historical mysteries should give this one a look. I enjoyed it and will look to read others in the series.

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

Note that this book has been published and costs $7.99 for the eBook version.

SOME OTHER REVIEWS:
“Agatha finalist Parker’s intricate eighth Silver Rush mystery (after 2020’s Mortal Music) finds onetime Colorado saloon owner Inez Stannert and her 12-year-old ward, Antonia Gizzi, settled comfortably in 1882 San Francisco…Appealing characters match satisfying puzzles. Historical fans will be delighted.” ― Publishers Weekly

“The year 1882 launches Inez Stannert―sleuth, card shark, musician, saloon owner, and helper of ambitious women―on another adventure…a mystery based on true events and replete with rich period detail, that’s a delight to read.” ― Kirkus Reviews –This text refers to the paperback edition.

Stories of Ambition, Resilience, and Unstoppable Love

by Emily Freidenrich

This is a lovely book and one that is certain to be (deservedly) popular. It would make a wonderful Mother’s Day gift or a gift for a new mother who could derive inspiration from those who became moms before her. This title will also be of interest to those who are fascinated by women’s life stories and/or by women in the arts.

Some of the mother-daughter pairings include Ingrid Bergman and Isabella Rosselini; Diana Ross and Tracee Ellis Ross; Phoebe Eprhron and Nora Ephron; Tina Knowles Lawson and her daughters Solange and Beyonce; Nina Simone and Lia Simone Kelly, and many more. For each there is a photo, biographical information and thoughts that the family members have about their relative. Throughout, there are also some floral illustrations.

The pair’s stories are organized into sections. Some of these include

Like Mother, Like Daughter: Following in her footsteps and in her embrace

Side by Side: Mothers and daughters as peers and costars, best friends and biggest fans

To Thine own Self: Reconciling your shadows and finding the light of your own way, and several other chapters as well.

This book is so well designed and a pleasure to read. Go in order or dip in randomly. Readers will enjoy the experience either way.

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

This title will be published on 29 Mar 2022.

ABC for Me: ABC Bedtime

Fall gently to sleep with this nighttime routine, from A to Zzz

by Erica Harrison

#ABCforMeABCBedtime #NetGalley

This sweetly and brightly illustrated book seems just right for toddlers. It is one of those titles that a child might listen to night after night as it helps them to transition to bedtime. In addition to the story, there is a letter and word on every page. This book makes a nice addition to the simple, bedtime story niche.

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

There is a review of this one on my blog.

About Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier. Non-fiction.

www.nytimes.com/2022/02/24/books/march-new-books.html

This is the Canon

Decolonize Your Bookshelf in 50 Books

by Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne, Kadija George Sesay

This title is a fantastic resource for those who want to expand their reading horizons. The three women who put this book together write on fifty books that are well worth reading. I want to list all fifty excellent choices here but will just list a few. Then readers can experience their own joy of discovery with this resource. So, there are Things Fall Apart by Chinua, Achebe; Wide Saragasso Sea by Jean Rhys; If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin; The Color Purple by Alice Walker; and Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid. All of these books were known to me but others, including The Emperor’s Baby by Bernandine Evaristo, an How to Read the Air by Dina Wengestu were not.

Each entry describes a book in depth. There is then a section, The Novel, that gives some context. Next is autobiographical information on the author and finally, my favorite section entitled If You Like This Try…

I definitely recommend this one! I agree with the introduction that notes that fiction can help us to enter worlds that are not a part of one’s own experience of daily life. This title will lead readers to hours of exploration and many new treasures to pick up. It will be an especially excellent resource for those who are seeking books by authors who are not white and who represent many points of view.

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

A Whole Brunch of Recipes to Make at Home

by Cathy Barrow

#Bagelbook #NetGalley

For many, the photo on the cover of this book represents the perfect Sunday breakfast. Please note, there are many equally appealing photos inside.

The author organizes the table of contents to look like a menu. It is a nice piece of whimsy. Find recipes for bagels, schmears, fish, and sandwiches. It is just one example of the appealing design of this title.

The writer of this book is very personable. A number of family stories are shared and set the tone. There are also some fun sections including one on the history of the bagel.

One of the many things that I like about this book was its willingness to acknowledge that not everyone is a whiz in the kitchen. So, says the author, buy bagels if that is your choice and try some of the other recipes. The reader feels freed to use the book in the ways that work best.

Another section that I liked was the trouble shooting one. For example, answering questions like “why is my bagel flat?”

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

This title will be published on 15 Mar 2022.

#TheLondonHouse #NetGalley

I have read and enjoyed a number of this author’s earlier novels. In my opinion, Ms. Reay’s first foray into historical fiction has been most successful. I recommend this dual time line story, even knowing that there are many such novels that take look at WWII, just as this one does.

Caroline, the Caroline of the present, is trying to be a good daughter. She has left law school so that she can be available to her father who has a serious illness. She finds satisfaction in her work for a pharmaceutical company whose products will, she feels, help others.

Caroline has a bit of a tough back story. She has a rather successful brother but lost a sister in a tragedy. This ripples into Caroline’s feelings about her family and theirs about her. Further, Caroline’s mom has been living in England and they have unresolved issues.

When Caroline hears from Mat, a college friend, she is thrown into a family mystery. Was Caroline’s aunt, also name Caroline, a traitor or not? What happened in her relationship with her identical twin (and present day Caroline’s grandmother) Margaret that led them to grow apart? Follow along as Mat and Caro learn more while in London.

The story is told through narrative but also through letters and diary entries. Readers enjoy a contemporaneous view of the events that shape Caro and Margo’s world. Early in the novel, Margo worries about the war while Caro, who is enjoying life in Paris, seems less worried by the behavior of Hitler. Margo spends time at the family country estate; after being ill she retreats and loses some of her gusto; will this change? Carol works for Elsa Schiaparelli. I enjoyed learning more about this fashion house and its unique designs, influenced in part by Dali. What will Caro do when she returns (at least temporarily) to England?

No spoilers, so readers will need to pick up the novel to find out what happened to Caro and Margo. They will see how these events played out in the lives of Caroline’s parents and in Caroline’s own world as well.

This is historical fiction done well. I recommend The London House.

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