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

Thanks for your suggestions, Madame Writer.  I go to Jane Austen as well.  I think that I am going to retead some Mary Stewart.  There are new digital versions with gorgeous covers.  Will try Rhys Bowen as well.

Looking for some comfort reads.  What are your favorites? Currently, I am reading The Lido.  Review to follow.

Tasha Alexander’s historical mystery series is at least fourteen books strong and yet, this is the first novel that I have read in the Lady Emily series. How did I miss them? I truly enjoyed this historical puzzler that was set in the wonderful worlds of ballet and 1900 St. Petersburg. The story is told from the perspective of a dancer and Lady Emily. The world of the book comes to life, the characters are engaging and the mystery was intriguing. I highly recommend this one for those who like their mysteries without too much gore. I am certain that I will now read the author’s earlier books. Thank you NetGalley!

 The Great Race tells the story of how the years in the Chinese calendar got their names. This fun animal story is appealingly illustrated and told with a gentle sense of humor. Ideal for young children as a read aloud.

#TheGreatRace #NetGalley

#TheQueen #NetGalley  Are you among those watching The Crown or someone who is now eagerly awaiting Season 3? While you are waiting, take a look at this beautifully illustrated book about Queen Elizabeth, her family and her world. This one can be read cover-to-cover or dipped into like a coffee table tome. Learn about the man who cured the King’s stutter, Peter Townsend and the Queen and her family right up through the present day. Highly recommended for the Royals fan!!

Well, Odysseus took seven years to get home to Penelope so maybe that means that I have seven years to finish this self-set project.  I am moving forward and enjoying both books, but this is a sail, not an ocean liner chugging.  Thought for now is about heroes.  How do you envision them?  Mr. Mendelsohn, the auditing dad, believes that they should not cry while in The Odyssey they do.  Which makes for a more heroic stand?  Acknowledge painful emotions or keep them inside?  My social work background leaves me with a bias but I welcome all opinions.  This is just one example of the timelessness of the topics raised in Homer’s work.

Many years ago, I began to order British books from Amazon UK.  One of the first novels that I received was by Jill Mansell.  I continued to enjoy her light, funny and romantic reads as late night books.  More recently, the novels have been available in the US through Sourcebooks.  Head Over Heels, my most recent read, reminds me of a modern Shakespearean comedy as couples come together, move apart and come together again.  If you enjoy a fun read, all the while knowing that all will turn out well, this could be for you.

#TheLegacy #NetGalley  The Legacy is the start of a new series by this Icelandic author. The protagonists are a detective and psychologist. The crime is rooted in decisions that were made in the past regarding the welfare of children. This book was too dark for me but, if you can take bleakness and grit, maybe this one is for you.

This book comes with an excellent pedigree. Jessica Fellowes, daughter of Julian and Downton Abbey fame, is a writer in her own right. The Mitford Sisters who led fascinating lives and are the subjects of many books are the children of the book, while Nancy is the protagonist. The setting is Britain, the time is after WWI so all of the elements are in place. Despite this however, I found the book to be good but not extraordinary. There is a mix of romance, mystery, secrets from the war, questions of identity and yet to my disappointment, it was not a five star book. This is the start of the series; I will hope the next book is just a little bit better.

#TheMitfordMurders #NetGalley

This book, which is an account of Ada Lovelace’s life for young readers, was charming, accurate and inspiring. The illustrations were engaging and added to the story’s narrative. Highly recommended for both girls and boys who will recognize that talent and imagination know no gender or intellectual barriers. This book is part of a series on adults who can inspire young readers and thinkers. Please note that I reviewed an adult book on Ada Lovelace, Enchantress of Numbers, by Jennifer Chiaverini on my blog. Amazingly, this children’s book, a quick read, included a fair amount of the same biographical data.

#AdaLovelace #NetGalley