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

#ThePhoenixBallroom #NetGalley

Any book that Ruth Hogan writes is a book that I want to read. I still remember how much I loved The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes. I also enjoyed Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel, and The Moon, The Stars and Madame Burova. Common to all of these novels are characters for whom readers will care and good stories. That excellent trend continues in The Phoenix Ballroom.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be widowed at a certain age? Does life end or do new experiences come to one? Does it have to be that adult children think they know what is best for one? These are some of the themes in this story.

Venetia is seventy-four when her husband dies. Around the same time, her son and his wife plan to move to France leaving their young son, Kite, behind in boarding school. He is not happy there. Additionally, Venetia’s son, Heron, wants her to have someone nearby. This leads to Liberty Bell’s arrival.

Liberty has her own story. When her mother died, she did not receive the inheritance that she expected. She was left a copy of The Lady magazine which is where she saw the ad for Venetia’s position.

Kite, Liberty and Venetia will all develop and grow in these pages. Readers will adore spending time with them, other characters, and Venetia’s dog named Colin Firth. They will also watch to see what happens to the ballroom of the title.

Anyone who loves a good and charming story should pick this one up. It is very highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 11 June 2024

A Novel

by Mario Giordano

An e book bargain today

Pub Date 18 May 2021

Auntie Poldi and the Lost Madonna is the fourth entry in what I find to be a rather quirky series. There is a lot happening in this one with exorcism, a dead nun and an extraordinarily attractive priest. Then, of course, there is Poldi, actually not Italian but Bavarian. Readers of the series know that she is very busy in Sicily though.

Fans of Poldi will welcome this book with its humor and action. It is not for everyone though in my opinion. Those wanting a very traditional mystery may be disappointed.

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

An e book bargain today

#TheBerlinLetters #NetGalley

Imagine that it is the weekend. You (Monica) are a mom with a three year old little girl (Luisa). Your husband (Haris) is a journalist and needs to work even though it is not a weekday. You live in the eastern part of Berlin. You are meeting your parents for lunch. They have moved a few blocks away and are just a few blocks into the western part of Berlin. Imagine that you go out with the stroller to meet them and find barbed wire! You cannot go for lunch but you do something big and impulsive that will have reverberations (no spoiler so no exact details here). This is the beginning of the story, the division of Berlin and the subsequent erection of the wall.

This start of Reay’s novel really captured me. I couldn’t stop thinking about what it must have been like for ordinary people when their lives were transformed by a wall and an ideology. It is to Reay’s credit that she sets the scene of the novel so well.

The book goes on to be largely told by two characters. One of these is a grown up Luisa and the other is Haris. There is a lot to find out about both of them (and others) but I do not want to give anything away. A few things to think about: an infinity symbol, truth and lies about family, codes. This should be enough to intrigue prospective readers.

Reay’s last book, A Shadow in Moscow, was a compelling read. Here Reay has again created a book that I both simultaneously could not walk away from and did not want to end. I recommend it very highly.

A note on the audio: There are multiple narrators which gives a true sense of the characters and story. Those who prefer their books as listens can’t go wrong with this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse for the e book and audio versions of this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 March 2024

An e book bargain today

The December 3, 2023 New York Times has an in depth article on Maria Callas. The 100th anniversary of her birth has just passed so she will be receiving much attention I expect. Author, Daisy Goodwin, had good timing in writing this historical novel about the world renowned star. Note that Goodwin has written other enjoyable historical fiction including The American Heiress and, Victoria. She has another good book here.

Readers are invited into Maria’s world from the very first page. She has an interesting and tumultuous life. She was a less favored child to her more beautiful (blonde) sister whose mother only seemed to see her when she realized Maria’s gift. Maria struggled with what today is called body image. Almost everyone knows how her love affair with Aristotle Onassis ended and the trajectory of her career. These topics and more are in the book.

Readers will, I think, feel empathy for Maria as they read this title. Despite her success, she struggled with her appearance, her self-esteem and her perfectionism.

Readers are given an inside look at the glitzy world that Maria inhabited with many names dropped including Elsa Maxwell, Franco Zeffirelli, Marlene Dietrich, Rudolf Bing, Liz Taylor…and these all just at the beginning of the book. Readers will discover many more.

Settings are well described. There are stages, parties, yachts but also places like Maria’s childhood home. There is music. There are relationships. There are success and heartache. What more could a reader of (historical) fiction possibly want?

I highly recommend Diva. For me, it was an immersive read.

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

Pub date: 23 January 2024

336 pages

 #AGirlsGuidetoWinningtheWar #NetGalley

Last year I read and enjoyed this author’s The Air Raid Book Club. With her latest novel, Lyons again sets a story during WWII.

Lyons has a gift for writing about characters with warmth and caring. Readers will be hoping for the best for many of those that they meet in these pages.

I loved how the book’s protagonist Peggy believed in libraries and stories. The author also makes literary references that I enjoyed.

Peggy is trying her best in all ways to help the war effort while working for the Ministry of Information. At the same time, her twin brother sees active service and Peggy hopes that her work will somehow end the war sooner and bring him home.

In contrast, when readers meet Lady Marigold Cecily, Peggy’s nominal boss, she is more of a socialite than a worker. Will she change and make a contribution? What about the others in Peggy’s unit? Some are irascible; all have personalities.

Readers also get to know generations of Peggy’s family. They are an endearing group.

This is a book that is very easy to like. I recommend it.

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

The author’s last book

My thoughts:

I truly enjoyed Annie Lyons’s novel about Eudora Honeysett and gave it five stars. I, was then, of course, quite eager to read The Air Raid Book Club. It did not disappoint.

This is an historical novel that will appeal to those who have read Dear Mrs. Bird, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Last Bookshop in London, and other similar titles. It is warm in the same way with characters about whom writers will care. Plus, there are books, lots of books. At the end of the novel titles are listed should readers wish to explore further.

Gertie was married to Harry. Together the two opened and loved a bookshop. Sadly, Harry died from the very thing that kept him from serving in the military. Gertie has subsequently lost her zest for life. When she is asked by one of Harry’s friends to take in a Jewish child as WWII looms, she hesitates before making her decision. What happens as a result of this choice, the importance of books, and more make this title a most satisfying read, even with some sadness in the events of the story. As an extra bonus, get to know Mr. Hemingway…no, not that one! He is Gertie’s lovely dog.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this title. All opinions are my own.

#WelcometoGloriousTuga #NetGalley

It is not easy to get to glorious Tuga. This fictional island is far from anywhere, takes a long sea (sick) journey to get to, and is often not accessible. It is a very distant (fictional) British outpost.

The islanders are descended from several families. Many have distinctive dimples. Some want to stay there, a few want to leave (and come back) and once in a while an incomer arrives.

In this story readers meet Charlotte Walker, a vet, who has traveled to Tuga where she plans to live for a year while studying a particular tortoise. She is escaping her London life and her demanding mother while hoping that, in Tuga, she may discover her father, advance her career and enjoy a new experience.

On the trip to Tuga, Charlotte meets Dan. He is a physician who has studied abroad and is returning to Tuga to take over his uncle’s practice. He and Charlotte spend a lot of time together on the trip out. Will they have a future?

These are only two of the many, many characters who populate this warm hearted story. It takes a bit to sort them all out but there is a helpful character list at the start of the novel. Get to know them, their stories, their interconnections, challenges and loves in these pages.

Many have already declared this to be a special book. I agree. I have read that it is the first in a trilogy.

It seems to me that one of the joys of being an author is that the writer can create an entire world, populate it how they want and decide the fates of their characters. Segal has done all of this in creating Tuga. I recommend enjoying a (virtual) visit there.

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

Pub date: 02 July 2024

What book lover could resist the cover of this title? A Love Letter to the Library is just delightful and an ode to a special place. Children will get a good look at all the joys that can be found here.

Both the text and vivid illustrations pay affectionate tribute to a special place. Get this one for any budding reader and enjoy it together.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Soucebooks Kids forthis title. All opinions are my own.

Four stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Robert Thorogood is the creator of the popular TV series Death in Paradise. Here is the third of his Marlow Murder Club mysteries. (They are also going to be coming to TV.) It will appeal to those who enjoy Richard Osman’s series.

Here too are a group of friends who play amateur detective (and busybody). Judith, Becks and Susie have distinct personalities and are only to eager to use them to advantage as they poke their noses in.

When the Mayor of Marlow is murdered by the Queen of Poisons (do you know what poison this is?) the stage is set. Follow along with the team as they solve this cozy village mystery. It is perfect for when you need to be pleasantly distracted.

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

Pub date: 04 June 2024

From PBS-Masterpiece

About the Show

An all-new adaptation of Robert Thorogood’s novel The Marlow Murder Club is coming to MASTERPIECE on PBS on October 27,. 2024. The thrilling, four part series stars Samantha Bond who is joined by Jo Martin, Cara Horgan and Natalie Dew.

Samantha Bond (Downton Abbey, Home Fires) takes the lead as Judith Potts, alongside Jo Martin (Doctor Who, Back to Life) as Suzie Harris, Cara Horgan (The Sandman, Traitors) as Becks Starling and Natalie Dew (Sandylands, The Capture) as DS Tanika Malik. Steve Barron (The Durrells in Corfu, Mrs Sidhu Investigates) is set to direct.

Author and writer Robert Thorogood said: “After over a decade of working on Death in Paradise, I’m thrilled to be creating a brand-new murder mystery series for TV. I can’t wait for audiences to join Judith, Becks and Suzie on their adventures as they solve a series of fiendishly puzzling murders.”

“No one should be surprised by a writer’s library,” says the author of the Maisie Dobbs series, about a World War I battlefield nurse turned private investigator. The series’ 18th and final book is “The Comfort of Ghosts.”
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2024/06/06/books/review/jacqueline-winspear-maisie-dobbs-by-the-book.html

 #TreasuredIslands #NetGalley

Arm chair travelers, historians, those who love the British Isles-here is a quite interesting title for you. Travel (by many different modes) and learn more about the history, culture and lifestyle of those who live on Britain’s islands. You will be accompanied by an accomplished guide.

This is a fascinating read. I learned a lot and now wish to visit many of these places and people.

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

Pub date: 28 April 2024