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

If you enjoyed books like The Nightingale and All the Light We Cannot See, you might enjoy this book as well.  Map of the Heart is women’s fiction but good women’s fiction.  It is about loss and love and the ways that loss impacts future relationships and risk taking.  The protagonist, Camille, is a photographer who restores old photos.  In the novel, through her photography, she uncovers the history of her father and grandparents who lived in France during WW II.  Tragedy has made Camille cautious; the reader watches as she slowly learns to again take chances and live fully.  The book takes place in both the present and in a French town that was occupied by the Nazis.   I recommend it.

I have not read Lilac Girls but it has been a very popular title so I note it here. It is an historical novel set during WWII.

From Goodreads:

Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades.
 
New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline’s world is forever changed when Hitler’s army invades Poland in September 1939—and then sets its sights on France.

An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.

For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.

The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents—from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland—as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.

Some reviews:

“Extremely moving and memorable . . . This impressive debut should appeal strongly to historical fiction readers and to book clubs that adored Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“[A] compelling first novel . . . This is a page-turner demonstrating the tests and triumphs civilians faced during war, complemented by Kelly’s vivid depiction of history and excellent characters.”—Publishers Weekly

“Kelly vividly re-creates the world of Ravensbrück.”—Kirkus Reviews

I adore the Little People, Big Dreams series of books. They are inspirational and informative. I found this title on Stephen Hawking to be one of the best. As always, the illustrations are lively and appealing and they enhance the text.

Stephen Hawking had a rich intellectual life and also faced unimaginable physical challenges. All aspects of his life, scientific work and diagnosis of ALS are simply but fully covered in this story and in the additional facts section. Hawking’s remarkable mind and thought processes are noted as is his groundbreaking discovery on black holes.

My favorite quotes from the book:

“His parents loved science, as did Stephen and his three siblings. They all ate dinner with a knife, a fork, and the company of a good book.”

“No matter how difficult life may seem there is always something you can do and succeed at.”

Future scientists will be inspired by this short book. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a wonderful new entry in a wonderful series. The opinions are my own.

#LittlePeopleBigDreams #NetGalley

This board book is part of a series that is an offshoot of the Little People, Big Dreams books which are written for slightly older children.

As they hear this story, young listeners will get a beginning understanding of British women’s fight for their rights, especially the right to vote. Children will learn that, as a young girl, Emmeline realized that boys had opportunities that she lacked. They will find out that she decided to do something about this and became a fervent supporter of women’s suffrage.

Here is Emmeline’s story and that of her family.  It is told in a simple straightforward manner. The illustrations that accompany the text are bright, bold and appealing as they complement the written narrative.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this one. It will teach young children about their amazing right to vote and women’s equality.

I find myself looking forward to this publication each time that it becomes available.  It is packed with content about all things having to do with romance.  There are reviews of books in every sub-genre of romance that you could ever imagine, along with reviews of tv shows and movies, updates of what is coming out in various media and some interesting articles.  It is definitely worth a look.

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

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.