Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too!

This book is part of the Tiny Travelers series. In this entry, young armchair travelers will visit Mexico. The book consists of a series of two page spreads each one featuring a place or tradition. For each spot, there are facts and a hidden object to find. Readers will visit places including Mexico City, Guadalajara, a Day of the Dead celebration and will learn about food and culture. Helpfully many of the Spanish words are given phonetic spellings as well so as to help non-Spanish speakers pronounce the words. Readers will enjoy the vivid and colorful illustrations as they go through the book. This is a good entry in a good series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed my trip!

#GoTinyTravelers #NetGalley

The author of forward to this book is a black woman in science as a veterinarian and is the daughter of a black woman in science as her mother was a nurse and nursing instructor. In this book, the author speaks directly to her readers trying to encourage and empower them and to believe in all that they can accomplish.

Doctor Brown Pellum tells the stories of many African American pioneers including for example the first female physician, Rebecca Lee Crumpler; Mamie Phipps Clark, the first African American woman to receive a Ph.D. from Columbia; astronaut Mae Jemison; and Annie Turbo Malone who created hair products specifically for African American women. Each entry includes an illustration, a quote, a biography and sections called Explore Ore and Tips for You! For example, the tip on Rebeeca Lee Crumpler states “Rebecca Crumpler’s aunt inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. Who in your family inspires you? Write them a thank you and note and explain why you appreciate what they do.”

This book is a fantastic compendium that should be made easily available to students. It will encourage them to achieve their professional dreams while connecting them to a long history of African American women in STEM.

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

When I was about ten years old, my mom bought be an atlas of the U.S. that was published by Golden Books. I had been wanting the book for some time. I thought about how much I enjoyed that book when I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and the publisher.

This book is an excellent and interesting introduction to the United States. Following a welcome page, there is a section on the biomes of North America and then the states…each one has beautifully, lively illustrated pages. Readers will learn “Fast Facts.” These include the size and population of the state, along with when it joined the Union, the State nickname and the State bird. Each map has pictures imposed on it that show sites, crops, animals and more. There are also additional illustrations that highlight places to visit. For example, there is the Grand Ole Opry in Tennessee, the Crystal Bridges Museum in Arkansas, the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island and so much more.

Help a child you know to learn geography. This book can be read in the order given or randomly. It is a good resource and will be enjoyed by both adults and kids.

From the Publisher

Welcome To The USA!

The United States of America was founded in 1776 and is now made up of 50 different states. The capital city is Washington, D.C. Located between Mexico and Canada, the U.S. is a big country – it’s the fourth largest in the world!

ARIZONA Known for hot weather and beautiful deserts, Arizona is a favorite place to vacation. There are unusual animals and ancient monuments. And no visit it complete without a trip to the Grand Canyon	NEW MEXICO The state used to belong to Spain and then Mexico. the cultures of the two countries can still be felt here. Native Americans, ranchers, cowboys, and miners have also played a role in the state’s history.	IOWA This Midwestern state is mostly farmland. People here live far apart, and cities are small. Every four years, Iowa plays a large role in the presidential election when it holds the first caucuses, or meetings, to discuss the candidates

Are you a person who likes to visit historic homes? Do you go inside and imagine what it might have been like to live there? Do you ever see a house and daydream about it being yours? If, like me, you answer yes to these questions, you may well enjoy Americana. This book showcases the farmhouses and manors of Long Island, New York. Homes have been on Long Island since the 1600s when early emigrants settled there. This book shows the evolution of a number of these homes both their outsides and interiors; in addition, one sees the landscapes that these homes enjoyed. There are essays to accompany the photos.

Some reviewers have noted faults and inconsistencies in this book. That is true but, nonetheless, it is a wonderful volume to look at and imagine where a person might live.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is Dervla McTiernan’s second novel; it follows The Ruin and features many of the same characters.  The Scholar takes place in Ireland at a university and science lab.  A young former chemistry student is murdered.  As you read the novel, you may, like me, think that you know exactly how it will end.  I was  partially wrong as it was more complex than I had anticipated.

In addition to Della, the (first) victim, the novel tells the story of Carline.  She is heir to a great pharmaceutical company but does not feel fully accepted by the grandfather who owns it.  What will she do to try to ensure her place?  What will happen to her?

The first book’s primary detective was Cormac.  He is in a relationship with Emma who works for Darcy Pharmaceuticals, the lab at the heart of this story.  What will happen when Emma is both a witness and a potential suspect?

This sophomore effort by Ms. McTiernan is definitely worth reading.  I raced through it.  Fans of authors including Tana French should love this one!

Macie seems to be the most popular girl in her class until…you guessed it, someone else seems to be claiming that spot. Macie is very upset and does not go to school the next day. With a magic mirror and a loving dad, Macie learns to accept and love herself while knowing that she does not have to be perfect.

I liked the idea of this story and its central message of self-acceptance. However, I do feel that this book could have been a bit more. The spots that the mirror gives Macie are symbolic and represent what she sees as flaws but this concept may not be clear to children. However, it may be a title that will be helpful to young perfectionists. It could open up discussion between adults and children.

Thanks to NegGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

This book has cheerful and, at times,  humorous illustrations.  Accompanying these are the names of 100 Christmas related words.  There are a number of sections in the book including “Christmas Decorating, Nativity, Christmas Eve, A Festive Walk” and more.  Each section then has a number of objects that young children may point to and name.  For Santa, for example, there are milk, cookies, sack, etc.  Each section also includes an action word and a feeling word that adults can talk to children about.  This is a cute book for the holiday season.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

#ChristmasIn100Words #NetGalley

The Books of the Dead is the second in a series, following Death in Paris, which I have not yet read. I found The Books of the Dead to be a novel that will appeal to lovers of cozy mysteries who are able to suspend some disbelief.

Our two sleuths, Magda and Rachel, are American ex-pats who live in Paris. They have a relationship with a French Inspector, Boussicault, who involves them in solving some of his cases. Why this would happen is the what requires a reader’s suspension of disbelief.

The case involves several murders and the theft of valuable pages from historic books. Suspects include those who work for or do research at the Biblioteque Nationale. Each suspect has a backstory that gives credence to why they may have committed the crimes. While solving the case along with our detectives, the reader gets to dash around Paris, spending a sufficient amount of time in cafes and bars.

The end of the book includes some extras. For example, there is a glossary of French terms.

I found this book to be an easy and relaxing read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review

I was thrilled to receive this novel from NetGalley and HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. I have read every book in this series of very British mysteries that, surprisingly, are written by an American author who lives in Texas. A Bitter Feast is book 18 in this fine series that has deepened over time. If you can, read the books in order for the people, the history and the relationships but, if you can’t, this could be read as a standalone.

Detectives Duncan Kincaid and Gemma Jones, who married many books ago, are invited to the country with their three children (Backstories on the children appear in earlier books as only one is the shared child of both Gemma and Duncan). They are invited by another police officer, Melody Talbot (again backstory in earlier novels), to her parents beautiful Cotswold home for the weekend. The descriptions of the countryside and the house will make you wish that you could hop a plane, unless you already live in Britain.

Of course, there are murders. There is also lots of food as chefs are important characters in the story. Why was a famous chef murdered? Why was his demise followed by others? And of course, whodunnit? I thought that I knew but I was wrong.

My only regret upon finishing A Bitter Feast was knowing that I now have to again begin the wait for the next book by this author. If you like traditional British mysteries/police procedurals, I highly recommend this one.

Reviews

Some mystery and some women’s fiction.