I read and enjoyed this author’s first, The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, so was intrigued by this second novel set in the world of books.
Here is a locked room mystery that fans of that genre will enjoy. However, they may feel differently in going into libraries for a while.
A group of friends hopes that a night in the library will be transformative and it is…just not in the way that they hoped.
This is a suspenseful read. Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
One thing that I love about Sulari Gentill is that she never seems to rest on her laurels. I very much enjoyed her novels about Rowly Sinclair and his group of friends. These are historical mysteries, set in the 1930s, in a series that began with A Few Right Thinking Men. There are good characters who are good friends and good stories in each of the entries.
Ms. Gentill then began to write some standalone novels and stories set outside of Australia. These include After She Wrote Him, The Woman in the Library, and now, The Mystery Writer. Each has an intriguing and, perhaps quirky, story.
In this new book, Theo (Theodosia) has decided to leave law behind. She wants to be a novelist. When her mentor is killed and her brother becomes a suspect, the scene is set.
A few things to ponder…who was the murderer, where is Theo’s manuscript, and what secret things are happening? Get ready for the unraveling.
It is easy to recommend this one.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
Meet Me in Monaco feels like the perfect title for right now. It is a gentle, romantic story that will allow its readers to escape daily life. Much of the book is set in France with its beautiful towns and countryside. And then, of course, readers also spend time in Monaco itself.
The background for the story is Grace Kelly’s wedding to Prince Rainier but Sophie and Jim are also prominent characters for whom readers want the best. Sophie is a parfumier with a beloved family business that is facing financial ruin. The man she is to marry does not always seem right for her. Jim is a photographer assigned at times to follow Ms. Kelly. Jim is divorced and the woman in his life is daughter, Emily.
Sophie meets Jim when he chases Grace into Sophie’s store. From this beginning, readers will spend time with the three and with the others who surround them, all the while hoping for fairy tale endings.
The book follows a typical narrative structure with the addition of nterspersed news articles. These are fun to read and help readers to feel that they are witnesses to the action.
This novel was written by two authors who worked very well together. It was impossible for me to detect who was writing when.
I highly recommend this novel for those who need a bit of feel good time.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.
I must confess that I did not know nearly as much as I thought I did about the movement that led to the (eventual) right for women to vote in the United States. I was aware of those who started the movement both the U.S. and England but I was familiar with only one of the three women featured in this novel.
The three are Alice Paul, Ida Wells and Maud Malone. Each has her life story told against the vivid backdrop of the politics of the day and their individual histories.
Alice Paul was raised as a Quaker; Ida Wells knew much about slavery, and Maud Malone was an Irish American librarian. What led each of these women to fight so hard for something that many now take for granted? Jennifer Chiaverini helps readers to understand why they worked persistently for what they believed in.
These three are not the only ones who appear in the book. To name just two others, there are Jane Addams and Ava Vanderbilt.
The history that Alice, Ida and Maud lived through comes to life in this novel. I was especially struck by all that Ida Wells endured including the impact of yellow fever on her life, the lynchings of people that she knew and much more.
Around these women are the men, many of whom wanted to thwart votes for women. They included President Wilson. Will the women succeed in organizing a massive march for the day before his inaugural? Read this one to find out.
I found The Women’s March to be among my very favorite books by this author. I learned a lot but did not feel that I was being lectured to.
This historical fiction should be on reading lists for high school students and up. It would make a superb book club selection.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
A BEST OF SUMMER READ ACCORDING TO NEWSWEEK, PARADE MAGAZINE, NBC NEWS, LITHUB, AND POPSUGAR!
This author’s love of books, libraries and people shine through in this title. The novel tells the story of Mukesh and Aleisha as well as some others. Mukesh was widowed and feels lost without his wife. When he comes across her copy of The Time Traveler’s Wife, he wants to return this overdue book to the library. This is a surprisingly difficult expedition for him. Mukesh even literally has difficulty getting in the library door which he does not know how to open.
Inside the library is Aleisha who is halfheartedly performing her duties as a summer employee. While her brother always adored the library as a child, Aleisha did not enjoy being there. Will this change?
Over the course of the novel, these two characters interact and their lives change as the result, in part, of a book list.
Bibliophiles will very much enjoy the book’s premise and will root for the characters. They will also enjoy seeing the book titles and lists that the author includes in this novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.
This book is another in Louise Penny’s series featuring Armande Gamache. Gamache is easily one of my favorite fictional detectives. He and the regulars of Three Pines have definitely become a part of my world.
Kingdom of the Blind should not be read before reading Glass Houses. See below for my review of that title. This story in some ways follows directly on that earlier book.
A lot goes on in and I kept me turning the pages while putting off things that needed attention. There are old wills, financial schemes, murders, drugs, relationships and the many ways in which people can be blind.
How well do we really know those around us? Some of the characters in this book will find out. What does one do to fight evil? How do people make moral and amoral choices? How do we care for others? These are some of the big themes that readers will ponder, all while reading a fast paced story.
You cannot go wrong by reading Louise Penny. Perhaps start in order and then keep going!
The Swans of Harlem is a must read for those who love ballet and social history. Here readers will meet some remarkable women. They are Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton, and Marcia Sells. Readers will also spend time with the Dance Theater of Harlem and witness the many accomplishments of that company and its dancers.
In her prologue, the author notes that Abarca’s daughter was very proud of all that her mother had done as a dancer who broke barriers and was an exquisite performer. However when she did some research, she found that there was a dearth of material on any Black dancer except for the wonderful Misty Copeland. This book is in some ways a response to the need for documentations and recognition of the contributions of earlier ballerinas. No one who reads it will forget these dancers/friends/colleagues/barrier breakers and more.
This book benefits from the author’s connection to her subjects. She documents their beginnings, careers, retirements and legacy. Those who read it will have met some remarkable women and deepen their knowledge of dance.
“Remarkable…Spirited…Valby’s extensive interviews with the dancers lend an intimacy to the narrative, the details of their lives elevated and their perspectives clearly observed. The women of the 152nd Street Black Ballet Legacy Council are determined to bring their story out of obscurity. In The Swans of Harlem, they become unforgettable.” —Bookpage
“A loving tribute.” —Smithsonian Magazine
“Five of the world’s greatest dancers helped change the face of ballet—they performed at the White House, they appeared on Broadway, they were on the covers of magazines…This insightful history from Karen Valby tells the stories of Lydia Abarca, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Sheila Rohan, Karlya Shelton, and Marcia Sells, celebrating the contributions they made to their art form and giving them the recognition they so greatly deserve.” —Town and Country Magazine
Meet Me in Monaco feels like the perfect title for right now. It is a gentle, romantic story that will allow its readers to escape daily life. Much of the book is set in France with its beautiful towns and countryside. And then, of course, readers also spend time in Monaco itself.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 