Uncategorized – Page 159 – Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

An e book bargain-What will be: The Proof of the Pudding (Rhys Bowen)

TheProofofthePudding #NetGalley

I have only recently begun reading this long running series and am so glad to have immersed myself in Georgie’s world. This newest book has everything within its pages that makes these titles so delightful. I enjoy the characters, especially Darcy (what a name, straight from P &. P) and Georgie. They are currently eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child, although Georgie is not too eager to experience labor.

As the story opens Queenie, who series regulars know, is up in arms at losing her position as cook to a French chef…that is, until she meets him and wants to be IN his arms.

As Georgie hosts her big dinner party, readers meet the odd Sir Mordred. He has a poison garden, among other things. It is obvious that trouble will follow. The fun is in going along for the ride with this author.

Highly recommended to those who enjoy sparkling historical mysteries. Readers can’t go wrong with this one.

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

Pub date: 07 November 2023

It is pervasive: The Good Mother Myth

Unlearning Our Bad Ideas About How to Be a Good Mom

by Nancy Reddy

I know that before I became a parent I imagined myself as endlessly patient, loving, giving and more. Then, when my second child was born, I looked at her and thought “I haven’t made any mistakes with you yet.” All of which is to say that moms seem to be held to very high standards and in the real world these can be hard to achieve, let alone, maintain.

But…what actually makes for a good mother? (Reddy sees this mom as having been portrayed largely as white in the past.) There have been many theories, some of which she debunks. She comments on theorists of parenthood including Bowlby and Spock among others.

Reddy also talks about her own experiences and what it felt like to become a new parent. I think that these sections of the book will resonate deeply with readers.

As a professional, I often facilitated groups. One of the magical things about a group is that members suddenly feel less alone and more understood. I think that this is what Reddy hopes, in part, that readers will take from this book. They are not alone in trying to figure out parenting and their own needs.

Readers should note that Reddy is not without a political bent.

Recommended to those who want to understand more about being a parent.

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

Pub date: 18 March 2025

From the Publisher

The Good Mother Myth Nancy Reddy Sara Petersen quote

The Good Mother Myth Nancy Reddy Minna Dubin quote

An e book bargain-Now out: Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri

For some reason, during the corona virus pandemic, I have been spending a lot of time in virtual Italy reading mysteries that are set there. My guides, until I read this novel, were Donna Leon and her Inspector Brunetti, and Andrea Camilleri and his Detective, Montalbano. Their novels feature an engaging protagonist, beautiful locations and, VERY IMPORTANT, delicious food.
So, I was curious about this book set in Tuscany and happy to receive an ARC. I was not disappointed. This novel, the start of a new series, and its detective, fit right into the sub genre of Italian police stories.
The protagonist of Murder in Chianti is widower and former New York City police detective, Nico. He has moved to Chianti following the death of his wife, Rita. Rita has a cousin in Chianti who owns a restaurant, one source of the delicious sounding food in the novel. Food wise, I would give a lot to get breakfast where Nico does each day. I also would like to sample some of the alcohol mentioned in the book, especially the red wines.
Around Nico are the police officers who want his help in solving a case, Perillo and Daniele. The murder of the story has ties with the past. The victim left Italy a number of years ago and became a successful vintner in California. Why did he return to Italy? How does this visit lead to his death? Who will be hurt as the case is solved?
This was a very readable book and one that I enjoyed. I recommend adding it to your TBR list.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an hoenst review. I look forward to the next novel in this seris.

#MurderinChianti #NetGalley

An e book bargain-Who is: The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

Pub date: June 1, 2021

The Bombay Prince is the third of Ms. Massey’s titles featuring Perveen Mistry. This one is my favorite!

The story is set in the early 20th century when Perveen was the first female solicitor in India. Perveen was educated at Oxford when she could not attend law school in her own country. She is in a practice with her father.

At the time that this story begins, Prince Edward is traveling to India. It is a time of unrest and protest as many in India would like to leave British rule behind. Some of those who are protesting are students. In this context Freny, a young college student, consults with Perveen. Freny is later murdered (not really a spoiler as this happens early in the book). Who killed her? Why?

The story itself moves at a leisurely pace. Readers get to know Perveen better in this book. There is more time spent with her family. Perveen’s friend Alice and Colin (from the second book) also are quite present.

The settings are beautifully presented. There are the college, the hotels, clubs, storefronts and more. There is also a lot to learn about Indian culture, foods and funeral customs. The author’s care in including so much detail enhances the reader’s experience.

Ms. Massey has written this series and also an earlier one set in Japan. I recommend all of her books most highly.

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

An e book bargain-A complicated time: The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharpe (Leonie Swann)

#TheSunsetYearsofAgnesSharp #NetGalley

Older characters and detectives are having a moment in the mystery genre. It may have begun with Richard Osman and Robert Thorogood has also followed this path. In this novel, we have the older characters created by Ms. Swann in this title that was originally published in German.

A number of older folks live together. Referred to as hippies, they have their limitations. Somehow they manage the indignities of aging. However, when two murders occur will they be able to manage…and to solve the cases?

I wanted to like this book based on all I had heard but I just found it to be okay. An issue for me was that I did not especially care for the characters who were living at Sunset Hall. I did love the illustrations and the tortoise though.

Note the following though so don’t just go by me.

A Washington Post Best Mystery Novel of 2023
A New York Times Editors’ Choice
Book Riot Most Anticipated Beach Reads of 2023
A LibraryReads August Bonus Pick

Many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press/Soho Crime for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 29 August 2024

Now out: The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Patti Callahan Henry is one of my absolute favorite authors. Ever since reading Becoming Mrs. Lewis I have been a fan. The Secret Book of Flora Lea was one of the most enjoyable books that I read last year. And now, there will be (in March 2025), The Story She Left Behind. It is another triumph of emotional storytelling.

The novel opens in the U.S. in the 1950s and takes place between there and England. Readers meet Clara Harrington and her daughter Wynnie. They are very close as was Clara to her own mother before she disappeared. What happened to her is a central theme in the novel.

Clara’s mother (based on a real person), Bronwyn, was a writer with a vivid imagination. In fact, she created not only her own fictional world but a language. Her famous novel was published when she was very young. The dictionary that will decode the language has been missing ever since Bronwyn went away.

The author makes clear that Bronwyn had struggles. However, there was no indication that she would vanish. The loss has been pivotal in Clara’s life.

Out of nowhere, Clara hears from Charlie (in London) who has found some belongings of Bronwyn among his father’s papers. The story is set when Clara and Wynnie travel to meet Charlie and are immediately enveloped in the devastating fog of 1952.

No spoilers so no more plot. I will just say that this novel has everything I want in a book. The characters, the vividly described settings and the story all kept me both wanting to turn the pages and not wanting to as I did not want to finish the book. I recommend this title most highly. I am already wishing for Henry’s next book.

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

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Brilliant, riveting, so beautifully written, impossible to put down. I wanted to know, needed to know, about the strange manuscript left to a daughter, and the odyssey it sent her on.” –Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novels

Cats of Rome

by Traer Scott

#CatsofRome #NetGalley

When someone I know visited Rome, they commented on the cats. Now I see why!

There are many cats, a number of whom live outdoors, in the Eternal City. In this title, readers get to meet some of them. It is delightful to look at the photos and to learn more about the neighborhoods in which they live, the history of Rome, and their lives in the city.

Recommended to those who love cats, Rome, and travel whether real or virtual.

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

Pub date: 22 April 2025

Highly recommended: The Curious Kitten at the Chibineko Kitchen

A Novel

by Yuta Takahashi

#TheCuriousKittenattheChibinekoKitchen #NetGalley

The cover of this book appealed to me and left me wanting to know more about what was in its’ pages. It accurately depicts a location from the novel.

There have been a number of books published recently that come from Japan and, as in this one, many also feature cats. In my opinion, this title is one of the best.

The reader is invited to visit this special kitchen. They will find what is on the menu to be quite interesting.

I felt drawn to Kotoko and deeply empathized with her grief. Will the Chibineko Kitchen help her? Would you want what is on their menu? It is definitely something to think about.

Kotoko is just one of the characters in this warmhearted story that is about both grieving and living. It is a book to be savored.

Highly recommended to those who would like a story with some magic.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 04 February 2025

An e book bargain-The Secret Garden

A Graphic Novel

by Mariah Marsden, Hanna Luechtefeld

Pub date: June 15, 2021

The Secret Garden is a well-known children’s classic. The story of a young orphan, a mansion on the moors, a crippled young boy and others is a hopeful one. The novel has been presented in different formats including a recent movie with Colin Firth, a cookbook and this graphic novel version.

All of the elements of The Secret Garden are here. The illustrations are evocative and true to the story. The dialogue covers the plot well. All in all, this title is a welcome addition to the classic version of the story. I recommend it.

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

An e book bargain-The Harbour Lights Mystery (Emylia Hall)

I very much enjoyed the first title in this traditional mystery series and am happy to recommend this second entry. Readers who read the first book will be delighted to again meet up with the recurring characters although those who are new will not be lost.

A chef is murdered in the Christmas season. There are suspects and a connection to Saffron who was also in the first book. The Shell House Detectives will become involved. They are Ally, the widow of a police officer and Jayden a former city cop and new dad.

The Cornwall setting is evocative, the characters come to life and the story is good. Everything I look first in a traditional mystery is here. Highly recommended. I look forward to the next in the series which is already out.

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

Pub date: 17 October 2023