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

Elin Hilderbrand has written many novels that take place on Nantucket.  This is her first murder mystery and the first book that I have read by the author.  The setting is beautiful and full of details of how the well-to-do spend their summers on the island.

A wedding is scheduled to take place.  The groom, Benji is the scion of a wealthy family while his bride to be, Celeste,  comes from a loving, middle-class background.    Celeste and Benji’s parents come to life in portrait-like depictions.  Benji’s mother is a society woman who writes mystery novels and always hosts in the most proper ways.  Her husband, Tag, is a man who has had many affairs. They live a life of luxury but do not have a happy marriage.  In contrast,  Celeste’s parents are “salt of the earth” types who have a loving relationship.  Karen, who has breast cancer, is portrayed in a wonderfully empathetic fashion.  Kudos to the author for sympathetically but not maudlin-ly describing Karen.  Bruce, Celeste’s dad, clearly adores both his wife and child.  They want only for Celeste to be happy and secure.

Celeste’s maid of honor is the murder victim.  For fear of spoilers, I won’t say more about what happened or the solution of the mystery.  There are numerous suspects and many relationships come into play.

This is what I would describe as a good summer read.  It is a long (over 400 pages) novel in which the reader becomes immersed.  If you want a light summer escape, this one is worth trying.

 

This is the first of a series that is set in Oxford. I read it when it came out and enjoyed it enough to want to read more by the author.

From Goodreads:

First in the brand-new Anna Hopkins dog-walking mystery series: an intriguing new departure for award-winning writer Annie Dalton.

Anna Hopkins’ daily walk through Oxford’s picturesque Port Meadow is rudely interrupted one autumn morning when her white German Shepherd, Bonnie, unearths a bloodsoaked body in the undergrowth. For Anna it’s a double shock: she’d met the victim previously. Naomi Evans was a professional researcher who had told Anna she was working on a book about a famous Welsh poet, and who offered to help Anna trace Bonnie’s original owner.

From her conversations with Naomi, Anna is convinced that she was not the random victim of a psychopathic serial killer, as the police believe. She was targeted because of what she knew. With the official investigation heading in the wrong direction entirely, Anna teams up with fellow dogwalkers Isadora Salzman and Tansy Lavelle to discover the truth.

Reviews:

An inventive plot, charismatic characters, and even some black humor combine to make this a good choice for suspense junkies” (Booklist)

“Dalton’s adult mystery debut is filled with amusing characters” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Dog lovers should be satisfied” (Publishers Weekly)

“Dalton makes her adult mystery debut with this classic British whodunit; its canine element will delight Susan Conant and Laurien Berenson fans” (Library Journal)

It is always fun to spend time with the Peanuts gang.  In this volume, Lucy certainly does speak out but she is not the only one.  Visit all of your favorite Peanuts characters including Schroeder, Linus, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Sally, etc.  I was reading this while sitting at jury duty yesterday.  The perfect antidote and one that left me laughing out loud.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a fun read.

A Murder Unmentioned is the newest novel in the Rowland Sinclair series that is published by the Poisoned Pen Press, a great source for mystery novels.

The cover reflects the period of the novel. It shows some characters in the book including Rowly’s dog, Lenin and his aircraft Rule Britannia. Rowly and one of his friends are inside. As you read the book, this beautiful illustration, is worth going back to for references from the story.

For those who don’t know, this series takes place prior to WWII when Hitler is in the ascendant and Rowly would like to do all he can to show the world the disaster that is coming. This is always a part of the novels. As has been true in other books in the series, some real life characters make an appearance; in this one thet include politician Bob Menzies and garden designer Edna Walling.

The delight of these novels lies in spending time with Rowly and his friends. There is the unconventional artist Edna, the poet Milton and another artist friend. They have communist leanings and are definitely anti-Fascist.

Other prominent characters are Rowly’s conservative brother, Wil, his wife Kate and their two young sons. Master Ernest is featured in this one as a pivotal character. At only age six, he seems destined to follow in his uncle’s footsteps.

In this novel, the reader learns a lot about Rowly’s early life and his relationship with his sadistic father. You will feel for the young Rowly. This part of the book was not easy reading.

When the novel opens, Rowly’s father has been dead for thirteen years. The murderer was not found and the central mystery of this one is finding who killed him.

This is a good entry in a good series. Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this chance to read the e-galley. The opinions are my own.

This is the first, but will not be the last, book that I read by this author. Her novels are now being published by the wonderful Poisoned Pen Press, a great place to find new authors and series.

This is the first novel that I have read by Ms. Khan, although it is not her first novel. I plan to read this entire series of mysteries featuring Esa and Rachel, along with the significant people in their lives.

This novel is a mystery but more than that. It has an important story to tell that resonates in the current climate of being less than welcoming to immigrants. The story takes place in a small Quebec community where the Muslim population is mistrusted by many. An attack occurs at a mosque and deaths result. Who is at fault? What has led to such deep feelings of unease on everyone’s part? Is the situation hopeless?

In A Deadly Divide there are members of the Wolf Gang, a white supremacist group, the Lilies, a group of girls, whose role in all that goes on seems ambiguous, the local priest, a reporter, the police force and a government spokesperson, among others. All are well described and become real and distinctive.

Along with the mystery and the politics, this novel is very much about the relationships of the characters with one another. This felt true to life as human feelings and emotions do not go away, even in the light of crises and volatile political situations.

I recommend this novel. It will make you think about the positions that you hold while also enjoying a well told story. Fans of author Suzanne Chazin’s series will want to read this. Both series look at the role of immigration in our world view while also depicting complex mysteries.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-galley. The opinions are my own.

“Outstanding…Khan perceptively explores who fear can quickly erupt into violence.”―Publishers Weekly (Starred and Boxed)

“Khan peoples her police procedural with believably nuanced characters to highlight the consequences of hate. The tension never lets down.”―Kirkus

AUSMA ZEHANAT KHAN holds a Ph.D. in International Human Rights Law and is a former adjunct law professor.

Dear Blog Readers,

I am tired after a day of jury duty so will leave it to you to learn more about these.  I can say that two are mysteries; one of these (Booth) set in the Peak District while the other is set in Ireland.  My Oxford Year is supposed to be a fun read while The Mothers is a bit more serious. Enjoy.

As soon as I saw this title on NetGalley, I desperately wanted to read it.  Many thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for granting my request.  The opinions below are my own.

I read the first Sidney Chambers novel, Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death, when it was first published.  I was captivated by the character of Sidney and wanted to know more about him.  I have continued to read the stories and have adored the Grantchester series on TV.  For me, James Norton has personified Sidney in a most satisfactory way.

The Road to Grantchester tells the story of Sidney before he was the TV character or the man in SC and the Shadow of Death.  I was so pleased at the prospect of learning how he became himself.

The beginning of the book was not easy.  After a brief prelude, Sidney is immersed in the horrors (and I mean horrors) of WWII in Italy where he serves with Robert Kendall. Robert is the brother of Amanda, a key character in the series.

What Sidney and his fellow soldiers witness and participate in is truly unspeakable.  James Runcie has written about war in a way that will make the reader long for peace.  Survival in his circumstances is kind of a miracle for Sidney.  However, not everyone important to him makes it home safely.

As a reader, because of how awful it was, I was relieved to move to the part of the novel that was post war.  Sidney comes home to a world that has changed and yet he has changed even more.  He tries to understand what he is meant to do with the gift of his life.  After much reflection, he decides to join the church.  The reader follows Sidney on his on-going faith journey.

This book is about those important to Sidney.  There is Robert his best friend and war compatriot…no spoilers here so I will not say more.  As in the TV series, there is prickly Amanda whose relationship with Chambers (as she calls him) is complex but important.

I left this book wanting to reread all of James Runcie’s books.  This is an excellent read if you are a fan of Sidney, want to remember why war is a mess or if you want to understand a protagonist’s wish to live a meaningful life.

This novel may not be for everyone but for me it was a five star read.

 

A variety of fathers and their children enjoy activities together in this simple story with bright, colorful and likeable illustrations.  Whether it is working together, playing together or getting ready for bed, life is fun for parents and children when they spend time together.  This is a nice read for a child and a dad to enjoy together.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this appealing picture book.  Since I read an e-galley, I missed out on lifting the flaps but you won’t have to!

Pair this one with the previously reviewed My Mommy and Me.

Time well spent: My Mommy and Me

#MyDaddyAndMe #NetGalley

This is a simple, nicely illustrated picture book for young listeners.  In it, Mouse is driving in a car that he has found.  He picks up several friends along the way and they look for the car’s owner.  Meanwhile, mouse’s hat blows off and is found by elephant whose car it is.  All of the animals together then go for a ride.

This book emphasizes sharing and the niceness of doing things for others.  While it has nothing unique to say, it is a fine book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.  The opinions are my own.

#WhatAniceCar #NetGalley

This picture book for toddlers has very bright, appealing and cheerful illustrations.  The simple text describes activities that moms and their children enjoy together. I had an e-galley so no flaps, but the real book has them to lift and I am sure that makes this one even more fun.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.  The opinions are my own.

#MyMommyAndMe #NetGalley

I see this book and immediately think…Perfect for kids  for car trips or plane trips or for waiting in doctor’s offices…you get the idea.  This book contains a variety of puzzles that kids should find quite fun and amusing. There are mazes, word games, jokes, spot the difference puzzles, word searches and more.   It is the sort of book that I adored when I was a kid.  I even want to do the puzzles now. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this fun puzzle collection.

#GameOnMoreAwesomeActivitiesForCleverKids #NetGalley