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

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/books/new-fiction-books-spring-2025.html

A Novel

by Emily

The Gothic novel appears to be experiencing a resurgence. I am curious if there is a connection between the world as it now is and the choice of going on scary fictional journeys. In any event, those who like their fiction a bit dark may want to give this one a look.

The story takes place in 1938 (also a time of political foreboding). Two friends, Gillian and the Violet of the title, are visiting Violet’s family estate. (Go back, Gillian!!). Much happens as Violet’s sisters involve Violet in sinister plotting. What follows is violent and complicated.

Reading this, I realized that the Gothic may not fully be for me. If it is for readers though, this delivers in spades.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 04 March 2025

From Library Journal:

VERDICT Readers will not be disappointed as they follow Gillian’s nail-biting experience with the Claybourne sisters, questioning choices that lead to a guttural, gobsmacking, and unforgettable ending.

From the Publisher

Introduction:

From the publisher

In 2022, Deanna Raybourn skyrocketed onto the bestseller lists with witty contemporary spy thriller KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE. Featuring four middle-aged women who also happen to be elite assassins marked as targets on the eve of their retirement, readers quickly fell in love with Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie and agreed with Deanna that women are never too old to kick ass.

As soon as the book published, the first question from everyone was “Will we be getting a return appearance from these ladies?” And we’re thrilled to say:  yes, in KILLS WELL WITH OTHERS (Berkley Hardcover; March 11, 2025).

About the book:

From the publisher

After more than a year of laying low, our killers of a certain age are back in action! They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to get to them. When they receive a call from the head of their former employer, elite assassin organization the Museum, they are more than ready to tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.

The Museum has a mole, and the trail leads to a shadowy, ruthless gangster willing to murder their former colleagues who get in his way. And the aging quartet is next on his hit list. Embarking on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive.

My thoughts:

This book invites readers to again spent time with the Killers of a Certain Age. Although I have not read the first in this series, I felt that I was able to jump right in.

Readers meet four women who have a spectacular skill set including proficiency in disguise, strategy and killing. They are Helen, Billie, Natalie and Mary Alice. These women are called back into service to avenge a colleague’s murder and the mayhem then briskly takes off.

This book is full of action, drama, excitement, good characters, a variety of global settings and more. It is a kind of James Bond for the older woman (but not too old) vibe. I found it to be very enjoyable.

I have read other series by this author. This one is a bit different. Kudos to Raybourn for doing something new …and succeeding.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

From the Publisher

Pub date: June 1, 2021

The Bombay Prince is the third of Ms. Massey’s titles featuring Perveen Mistry. This one is my favorite!

The story is set in the early 20th century when Perveen was the first female solicitor in India. Perveen was educated at Oxford when she could not attend law school in her own country. She is in a practice with her father.

At the time that this story begins, Prince Edward is traveling to India. It is a time of unrest and protest as many in India would like to leave British rule behind. Some of those who are protesting are students. In this context Freny, a young college student, consults with Perveen. Freny is later murdered (not really a spoiler as this happens early in the book). Who killed her? Why?

The story itself moves at a leisurely pace. Readers get to know Perveen better in this book. There is more time spent with her family. Perveen’s friend Alice and Colin (from the second book) also are quite present.

The settings are beautifully presented. There are the college, the hotels, clubs, storefronts and more. There is also a lot to learn about Indian culture, foods and funeral customs. The author’s care in including so much detail enhances the reader’s experience.

Ms. Massey has written this series and also an earlier one set in Japan. I recommend all of her books most highly.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Ethel is 73 years old. She can play the senior citizen card when needed but there is so much more to this vibrant woman. Ethel has retired from the FBI but her quick brain, skills, and schemes are as fresh and effective as ever. Get to know her in this enjoyable mystery/caper about murders and shenanigans affecting the Supreme Court.

The author juggles a lot in terms of a complicated scheme in which it takes a little while for readers to figure out what is going on. There are senators, supreme court justices and their clerks, the FBI, Ethel’s relative and friends along with all living in a DC that comes to life here. There is a serious issue underpinning the story that has to do with a Supreme Court’s pending decision on precious metals and mining. The issue feels quite timely.

Those who enjoy cozy thrillers (is there such a thing?) are certain to want to read this one. There is an earlier title in the series as well and I hope that there will be a third to come.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

This title was published in October 2023

I love the title of this latest by Ellie Alexander. I assume that the similarity to Roberta Flack’s song is intentional and it clearly is clever.

Wow! This is number 21 in the long running bake shop mysteries. It still feels like a fresh and enjoyable read which is an accomplishment.

This is a book in which, despite murder, a reader can be forgiven for being hungry and wishing that the restaurant that is featured was real. That said, in addition to the food, I enjoyed the setting and the characters. The mystery itself is involving as well.

Recommended to those who enjoy traditional mysteries. Note that it is not necessary to have read the earlier books to enjoy this one. However, readers who enjoy this one can look forward to many good books in the backlist.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 25 February 2025

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.

#AmurderUnmentioned #NetGalley

My review of an earlier entry in the series:

The Rowland Sinclair mysteries take place in the 30s and Rowly reminds me of that great thirties sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey. He is an artist who is surrounded by his communist leading friends including the lovely Edna, a sculptress. This novel picks up where the prior one ended with the group escaping from Germany at a time when the Nazis were rising and brutal. They come to England where they try to alert the government to upcoming perils and to solve the mystery of an upper class man who is found dead. Subsidiary figures abound including H.G. Wells and Evelyn Waugh.
I truly enjoyed this novel and recommend it to fans of historical mysteries. I look forward to reading more. Thanks for this one, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley.

by Sulari Gentill is an e book bargain

Here is the very first title in the wonderful Rowley Sinclair mystery series. It is sure to be enjoyed by historical mystery fans who will want to go on to read all of the others. Luckily, there will be at least nine more for readers to devour.

Rowly doesn’t quite fit in with the expectations of his aristocratic family in 1930s Australia. His mother confuses him with a son who died. He has friends who are communists, poets and artists, clearly not like his brother Wilf’s friends.

When Rowly’s uncle, also named Rowly, is killed it is up to our Rowly to figure out what happened and why. Readers will enjoy following the clues with him.

If readers don’t already know this series, they are lucky as they have some good stories ahead.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pantera Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 01 September 2017

Note: In the U.S. this series is published by Poison Pen Press.

A Mystery

by Rosanne Limoncelli

#TheFourQueensofCrime #NetGalley

If the names Agatha, Ngaio, Dorothy and Josephine are instantly known to you, then this is a book to add to your reading list. To anyone who doesn’t know, these women with last names Christie, Marsh, Sayers and Tey are among the most beloved writers of crime fiction ever. They are indeed the Four Queens of Crime of this book’s title.

One of the very fun things about this book is having the sense of eavesdropping on these four and learning more about each of them. For example, Agatha Christie notes that Max Mallowan was the better husband for her as compared to her first spouse. Readers learn that Dorothy Sayers’s husband was an invalid and so on.

At the same time, readers are treated to a classic country house mystery. The four writers are there for a fundraiser and thus are present when a murder occurs. There is a full range of suspects including the victim’s children and their significant others or friends, political figures, servants and more in this historical mystery set in the late 1930s.

An extra bonus is that a woman DCI, Lilian Wyles, based on the first woman to fill that role is also on the scene. She questions suspects and is a full participant in the investigation.

Lovers of traditional mysteries will, I think, very much enjoy this title. It is fun to observe the interviews and see who the murderer is.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 11 March 2025

Four stars

#ScotandBothered #NetGalley

Romance-Women’s Fiction-Travel: 332 pages

For many, times feel rather troubled. Sometimes, in that situation, a bit of escapist fun is called for. That is what this title offers.

The glue in the story is a woman named Mhairi. She brings together the book’s protagonists. They are Brooke and Mhairi’s nephew Jack. Both have had some bumps along the road. Brooke was expelled from university while Jack, who was also forced to leave university, has turned his back on a family business. The two are brought together when they hike the Skye Trail at Mhairi’s request for her memoir.

These two have some past history. The question now is what will their future hold?

I loved visiting Skye with this couple. Readers will want things to work out for them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 04 March 2025

From the Publisher