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

One more e-book bargain (Cleeves)

The Crow Trap: The First Vera Stanhope Mystery I have loved everything that I have read in both of this author’s series; there is one set on Shetland with Jimmy Perez and the Vera Stanhope series. In addition to the novels, both have been made into series that are available on sites like Britbox and Acorn. I think that there are also some on Netflix and/or Amazon. The Crow Trap is the first book in the Vera series. I recommend it pretty highly. I earlier blogged the latest in the series, The Seagull and recommended it pretty highly. I am re-printing that blog entry below.

The Seagull is a Vera Stanhope mystery, a novel in one of Ann Cleeves’ two series, both of which are excellent. (The other books are the Shetland novels.) Both are also TV dramas available in the U.S. and originally from Britain.
I especially enjoyed this book because of the back story. The reader learns more about Vera’s parents and her childhood. I also enjoyed spending time with favorite characters, including Holly and Joe.
This novel is about an historical crime with implications for the present. The story is well told and the pages kept turning. Highly recommended.

Four excellent mysteries in e-book bargains today

A Casualty of War: A Bess Crawford Mystery (Bess Crawford Mysteries) A Blossom of Bright Light

What these books have in common is that they are all excellent mysteries. Each is quite different from the other but each is part of a series, so if you like one, you can keep going. We have British (Atkinson), historical (Todd), Australian (Harper) and in the Suzanne Chazin series excellent mysteries with a subtext that deepens one’s understanding of immigration issues. If you are looking for summer reading, here is a good beginning.

Freedom Fighter (Tubman by Vegara)

This is a praiseworthy entry in a praiseworthy series for young readers and their families. This short story about Harriet Tubman belongs in school and home libraries.

Slavery is not an easy subject to write about; it takes genuine skill to talk about the topic in a way that can help young readers to understand something unthinkable. The author does this factually and simply as she tells Harriet Tubman’s story is in an inspiring way. As always, in the Little People, Big Dreams books, the illustrations augment the story nicely. Add this to your collection.

#HarrietTubman #NetGalley

Pub day re-post (Trent)

No Cure for the Dead: A Florence Nightingale Mystery I enjoyed this mystery novel which seems to be the start of a new mystery series with Florence Nightingale as the sleuth. Florence has just been placed in charge of the Establishment, a prototype hospital for gentle women (those who would not be at a workhouse hospital but could not afford to be cared for at home). A nurse is murdered and the story builds from there. This book does an excellent job of setting the scene and of bringing 1850s London to vivid life. Many historical personages appear in the book and seem to fit right in. The mystery is solved in a very Agatha Christie like manner with all of the main characters in a room together. Like Hercule Poirot, Florence deduces all. A thoroughly enjoyable read for fans of Anne Perry. Of additional note, I learned a lot about Florence herself. Thanks NetGalley!

Welcome back, Ruth! (Griffiths)

As soon as I finish reading a Ruth Galloway mystery, I long for the next one to come out. I very highly recommend the series. The characters are quirky, the relationships complicated, the settings well described and…the mysteries are good too.

In this latest novel, Ruth, a forensic archaeologist, travels to Italy. She is accompanied by her friend Shona, Shona’s son and Ruth’s daughter, Kate. Nelson, a police inspector and Cathbad, a Druid (yes!) eventually travel to Italy as well. The Italian town setting is eerily described.

Ruth has come to Italy to offer an opinion on ancient bones but bones from WW II also come to light. There is intrigue and murder. All is eventually solved.

Best of all, there are the relationships; Ruth and Nelson, Nelson and Michelle, Michelle and Tim, for the adults and other relationships between parents and their children including Ruth and Kate, Nelson and Kate and Michelle and Laura.

While the mysteries are good, it is quirky, eccentric Ruth and her relationship with Nelson that I most eagerly follow. If you have read the series, rejoice in this latest entry and, if you haven’t, start from the beginning and rejoice in discovering a fine series.

#TheDarkAngel #NetGalley

A Masterpiece of historical fiction (Davis)

This is Fiona Davis’s third New York City based historical novel and it is a winner! I have not read her earlier books,The Address and The Dollhouse, but may well do so now.
The Masterpiece has a dual narrative structure, one story is set in the 1920s-30’s and the other in the 1970s. The stories of Clara Darden and Virginia Clay overlap and intersect.
Darden is an illustrator, teacher and painter in the earlier era while Virginia, a divorcee, begins working at Grand Central around the time when the landmark battle was underway. Each woman has a backstory, relationships and challenges, all of which are well depicted.
Did you know that in the 1920’s there was an art school right in Grand Central? Did you know that Sargent was one of the founders? Are you interested in historical preservation? Do you enjoy a story with a plot twist? If you can answer yes to any, or all of these questions, I highly recommend this book.

#TheMasterpiece #NetGalley

Attention young artists (On O’Keefe by Vegara)

I adore this series which tells the stories of women of many talents. The books are short but detailed and factual with appealing illustrations. Georgia comes to life as a young girl who loves art and moves away from home to become an artist. Her love of city architecture, the appeal of looking at things up close and her deep appreciation for the southwest all shine through. Plus, the reader learns about Alfred Stieglitz. A great series for parents and children to share. These books provide role models for dreaming children.

#GeorgiaO’keeffe #NetGalley

Read this! (Buzz Books)

This is the most buzzy of buzzes! This publication is available through NetGalley or you can access it at Amazon. It is absolutely worth looking at. Among the exciting things to mention for the fall season …Jodi Picoult, Tana French, Barbara Kingsolver and Kate Atkinson all have novels coming out. They and so many others are listed in this Book Buzz. It will be a great season for reading!

Wedding season is coming (Thayer)

As June approaches, love and weddings start to be on people’s minds. If you don’t have a real June wedding to attend, take some time to spend a fictional summer on Nantucket and be a guest at a wedding there.
David and Alison are a middle aged couple who have found love after their spouses died. Their relationship is sweetly portrayed. The drama in the novel comes from the intricacies of their adult children’s relationships. There are Alison’s children. First is Jane who is married to Scott; both are hardworking but are they right for each other? Then we have Felicity and her husband, who spends a lot of time at work with his assistant. Will their marriage survive? Does Felicity want it to? Then there are David’s children; pregnant Poppy and her playboy brother. Poppu wants to take over her father’s company but is she prepared? She does not want to welcome Alison in to family. There is also Poppy’s playboy brother who may create a lot of havoc. Read this novel to find out how all of these dramas play out. Along the way, you will be treated to a generous and lovely slice of life on Nantucket. Enjoy!