Author: joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviews

A few comments…The Widows of Malabar Hill is the first in a new series by Sujata Massey.  Ms. Massey also wrote the Rei Shimura series which is one that I very highly recommend.  The first book for Rei is The Salaryman’s Wife.  Each title in the Rei Shimura series looks at an aspect of Japanese life.  Malabar Hill is the first of a new series set in India.  I have read both in this new series.

Dorothy Simpson writes a very solid set of books set in a small English town and featuring Luke Thanet, his team and his family.  They are easy, good reads.

Margery Allingham wrote during the “golden age” of mystery.  Here are three of her novels.

Enjoy these and the others listed below.

The jokes are silly and the illustrations are fun.  This is an excellent compendium of jokes for elementary school aged kids.  With 200 jokes, this title will keep children smiling for a while.  It is worth a look

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Having trouble sleeping?  Maybe always?  Maybe sometimes?  If your answer is yes, this book is worth a look.  It is full of tips for sleep, organized by different types of “tricks.”  A few of the chapter headings include Mind Tricks, Food and Drink Tips, Breathing Trick and Tips of Taking the Stress Out of the Day. The suggestions are short and practical and definitely designed to be helpful.  Readers will know some of them but maybe not all.

This title is worth a look.  It can be read in any order and may just help you to get more zzzs.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date:  May 12, 2020

This is a very short book for the very youngest children.  They will enjoy seeing the animals and pressing the buttons to hear the sounds that they make.  A simple concept but it is effective.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

#MooCluckBaaTheFarmAnimalsAreHungry #NetGalley

From the publisher:

What an adorable book for the littlest listeners and one with a lovely message to boot.  A number of sweet looking animals try to do things only to go…oops.  As this happens repeatedly, toddlers will enjoy the anticipation and will soon be shouting oops themselves.  The story ends with a lovely reminder that there will  always be friends to pick us up!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this charming read.  All opinions are my own.

#OopsStepbystep #NetGalley

This brightly illustrated book contains three stories about Scaredy Monster for young readers. Poor Scaredy; he does not scare others but rather is scared of things himself. For example, in the first story Scaredy is very worried about losing a tooth; he is so worried that he tries to keep it in with peanut butter, marshmallows and more. Luckily Scaredy’s mother helps him through and he finds that losing a tooth is not so bad.
In Part Two Scaredy Monster gets his first two wheeler and after a scary experience does not want to ride any more. Once again, Mom helps him to face his fears as he learns to ride his bike
In Part Three, Scaredy Monster goes on his first sleepover. It is fun until it is not. Yet again, Scaredy learns to cope with the support of the adults around him.
This is a great book for kids. It takes their fears seriously while showing that they can cope. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

From the publisher:

This book is geared towards three-to-six year olds and the adult who reads them a bedtime story. The author notes that, in the age of screens, it is more difficult for children to relax and get ready to go to sleep. One possible solution is to look at this book with a child once they are ready for bed.
Using stories and imagery from the constellations and mythology, a number of short tales are told. Alongside these are stretches, breathing exercises and other mindfulness activities to help a child become ready for sleep.
The author wisely suggests reading in any order and trying out activities even if you are not certain that your little one will engage. To me, it seems worth the effort.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this for this beautifully illustrated title in exchange for an honest review.

Sticking with light in the bargains.  Ireviewed the Jill Mansell book (see archive).  I recommend the Inspector Wexford mysteries.  The Diane Chamberlain has been popular.  I recently reviewed a different title by her that I enjoyed.  Happy reading.

I have been reading and enjoying mysteries since I was a young child with my first Nancy Drew books.  I still look to mysteries as favorite reads.  It’s not always the “whodunnit” but often the characters, settings and joys of following a series that draw me in.

Whenever I read a mystery, I take a look at the page about the author.  Sometimes I wish I knew more though about what makes a favorite writer tick.  If you feel that way too, this is a fun book to dip into in any order that you like.

This title from the Mystery Writers of America posed a question to authors; they were asked to write about a mystery in their own life, however they defined that. As a result here are writings by Sulari Gentill, Ausma Zahanat Khan, Rhys Bowen, Jacqueline Winspear, Tasha Alexander, and Anne Perry, just to name my own favorites.  (Reviews for these authors are on my blog).

What a treat!  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

You can’t really go wrong with Agatha Christie if you need an escape.  I have liked the Scandinavian mysteries by Viveca Sten.  Several reviews are in my archive.  The Daziel and Pacoe series by Reginald Hill is a good one.  And then, just a few other books that I saw.  Hope there is something that will give you a much needed break.