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

#TheWomanontheLedge #NetGalley

By now readers know that a book whose title includes the words ”The Girl” or “The Woman” is going to find a complex, twisty story where it is hard to know who to believe and exactly what happened. That is certainly the case in Mancini’s page turner. Mancini is a British criminal defense attorney so keep an eye on the lawyer in the story.

It starts with a holiday party. A woman who works as a temp goes to this party where, by the way, her married lover also works. When she goes out on the roof for some air, she finds said woman on the ledge. She is threatening to jump. Tate talks the woman, who says her name is Helen, down. Things get increasingly complicated when Helen seeks Tate’s help the very next day. She says that she lost an earring at the party and convinces Tate to return to the London high rise building.

Horrifically a woman dies. Tate is arrested. Helen can’t be found. Was she really named Helen? Stories come and go. As is the case in these novels, that the reader does not know what to make of events and who to believe. Pages turn as readers seek answers.

I first heard about this novel in a British magazine and knew that I wanted to read it. You might want to as well.

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

Pub date: 16 January 2024

An e book bargain

I have been a huge fan of this series since the first, In the Bleak Midwinter, was published over twenty years ago. In that time, I have become very attached to Clare, Russ, Hadley, Keven and so many other folks who live in Millers Kill. Watching them grow and seeing their relationships evolve has been such a pleasure.

That said, this time I do feel that I need to issue a warning. In these pages, readers will find racism against Asians and Native Americans, anti-Semitism, domestic violence and many unlikable people. Know that all will be okay in the end but that this book may not be for everyone. It is the kind of read where one has to trust the author in order to keep going.

I admire Spencer Fleming for taking on incredibly relevant issues in these pages. The way that they juxtapose with the Christmas season backdrop shows both the worst and the most hopeful that there is.

This is another very strong entry in a strong series.

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

Pub date: 18 November 2025

Post first published on 22 December 2025

Description:

from the publisher

THE INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER

“Spencer-Fleming, in her most masterly turn yet, mixes heart-stopping action with deep empathy for her characters.” – Sarah Weinman, New York Times Book Review

New York Times bestseller Julia Spencer-Fleming returns to her beloved Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series

It’s Christmas time in Millers Kill, and Reverend Clare Fergusson and her husband Russ van Alstyne – newly resigned from his position as chief of police – plan to enjoy it with their baby boy. On their list: visiting Santa, decorating the tree, and attending the church Christmas pageant. But when a beloved holiday parade is crashed by white supremacists, Clare and Russ find themselves sucked into a parallel world of militias, machinations and murder.

Meanwhile, single mom and officer Hadley Knox has her hands full juggling her kids and her police work. She doesn’t want to worry about her former partner – and sometimes lover – Kevin Flynn, but when he takes leave from the Syracuse PD and disappears, she can’t help her growing panic that something has gone very wrong.
Novice lawyer Joy Zhào is keeping secrets from her superiors at the state Attorney General’s Office. She knows they wouldn’t condone her off-the-books investigation, but she’s convinced a threatening alt-right conspiracy is brewing – and catching the perpetrators could jump start her career.

NYS Forest Ranger Paul Terrance is looking for his uncle, a veteran of the park service gone inexplicably missing. He doesn’t think much of an ex-cop and out-of-town officer showing up in his patch of the woods, but he’s heard the disturbing rumors of dangerous men in the mountains.

In New York Times Julia Spencer-Fleming’s latest novel, as Christmas approaches, these five people will discover their suspicions hang on a single twisting thread, leading to the forbidding High Peaks of the Adirondacks. As the December days shorten and the nights grow long, a disparate group of would-be heroes need to unwind a murderous plot before time runs out.

From the Publisher:

About the Author:

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING is the New York Times bestselling author of One Was a Soldier, and an Agatha, Anthony, Dilys, Barry, Macavity, and Gumshoe Award winner. She studied acting and history at Ithaca College and received her J.D. at the University of Maine School of Law. Her books have been shortlisted for the Edgar, Nero Wolfe, and Romantic Times RC awards. Julia lives in a 190-year-old farmhouse in southern Maine.-

About the Book: 

from the publisher

After a decades-long stint in prison, former serial killer Carol is looking to kick back and relax in her new retirement home…until a fellow resident drops dead and Carol has to prove she actually didn’t do it this time…. 

Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She’s hoping her past as a serial killer won’t come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it’s not long before a fellow resident—who happens to be a former police commissioner—drops dead, and Carol’s true identity is leaked—making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward.  
 
Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn’t the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks—it’s filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol’s guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong…without killing anyone, for once. 

About the Author: 

As well as an author, Fergus is a multi-award-winning actor, comedian and writer for television. I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home is his third novel. He lives in London. 

More:

from the publisher

A sharp, laugh-out-loud whodunit with surprising heart, the novel follows Carol—a former serial killer newly released from prison—who just wants a quiet life in a luxury retirement home. Unfortunately, when a fellow resident turns up dead and Carol’s past is exposed, she must solve the murder to prove she didn’t do it this time… all while living among former cops, barristers, and government officials who are very sure she did.

I’M NOT THE ONLY MURDERER IN MY RETIREMENT HOME has already earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus and was selected as AARP’s “27 of Winter’s Best New Books.” With its blend of warmth, wit, and wicked humor, it’s perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club, Killers of a Certain Age, and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.

My thoughts:

I’ve only just begun this one but feel certain that it will be an enjoyable read with a mix of plot and humor. The premise feels original and offers a new variety of a murder set within a small community.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the invitation to the blog tour and to NetGalley as well. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 17 February 2026

Recently I have read a number of novels that are based on Jane Austen’s works. I’ve also been immersed in stories where characters magically travel back in time. Imagine the fun of combining both of these trends in one novel. I was hooked.

Here is a fun read that Austen lovers will enjoy for the insider knowledge they have. Those who enjoy time travel will have a fun time as they watch Tess and Hugh unexpectedly travel to Austen’s England. Then, of course, there is the enemies to lovers trope.

All of the above combined make for delightful escapist reading.

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

Pub date: 16 September 2025

Post first published on 16 February 2026

From the Publisher

Reviews:

“Enjoyably goofy. . .The time-travel element is a fun twist, and the comedy is weighted with just enough darker emotion.” – The New York Times

“Bell sprinkles in enough references to Austen’s works to satisfy any fan, but she also creates a love story that is genuinely moving in its own right…The story blends the wit and stakes of an Austen novel with the steaminess of a modern romance. A delightful homage to Austen with plenty of its own romantic charm.” – Kirkus, Starred Review

“Bell makes a meal of the Austenian setting and does a fantastic job peeling back her well-matched leads’ layers as they learn to let go of first impressions. It’s an utter delight.” – Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

The Madness of Crowds follows on All the Devils are Here. That was a book that I absolutely adored. The Madness of Crowds is a book that I respect and one that has made me think.

Layered on the mystery of why the victim was killed and, if she was even meant to be the victim, are topics about community, the responsibility that we owe to one another as individuals and members of society, the high cost of tragedy and trying to save others, other ethical issues about practices in psychology and much more.

Among the characters is Abby who has a theory that some agree with and others find abhorrent. I don’t want to have spoilers so will not say more. Abby is close to Debbie who is a long time friend and her assistant. Their relationship turns out to be complex as is her relationship with a university chancellor. Then there is Haniya, a stranger to Three Pines and a controversial figure, even if she may be proposed for the Nobel prize.

The residents of Three Pines in all their eccentricity are here. So are Jean-Guy, Isabelle and the ever good man with a strong conscience Armand Gamache and his thoughtful wife Reine Marie. All are tested over the course of the novel.

This story is long, complex and thought provoking. Those of you who have read it, what did you think?

Our columnist read “The Everlasting” too late to put it on her Best of 2025 list. She’s sorry!
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/books/review/new-romance-books.html

Thanks to the Stop You’re Killing Me newsletter for this info.

Best Standalone Novel
°	Cross My Heart by Megan Collins
°	Zigzag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton
°	The Burning Library by Gilly Macmillan
°	The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
°	So Happy Together by Olivia Worley

Best Series Novel
°	Chain Reaction by James Byrne
°	The Big Empty by Robert Crais
°	Head Cases by John McMahon [review]
°	The Tourists by Christopher Reich
°	Terminal Moonlight by Vincent Zandri

Best First Novel
°	Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall [review]
°	Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox
°	Count My Lies by Sophie Stava
°	History Lessons by Zoe B. Wallbrook [review]
°	Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang [review]

Best Young Adult Novel
°	Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson
°	This Stays Between Us by Margot McGovern
°	Shiny Happy People by Clay McLeod Chapman
°	The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
°	The Thrashers by Julie Soto

Best Short Story
°	“Level Up” by Katrina Carrasco
°	“The Seduction of Dr. Dimension” by Scott William Carter
°	“Eleven Numbers” by Lee Child
°	“False Note” by David Lagercrantz
°	“The Violent Season” by Jessica Van Dessel

#TheMinotaurSamplerVolume20 #NetGalley

I consistently love the Minotaur Samplers. Here is a free title that features forthcoming mystery/suspense books. For each, there is a description of the book, a generous excerpt and information on the author. The sampler can be so helpful in making reading decisions.

Highly recommended.

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

Pub date: 20 January 2026

Description:

from the publisher

Looking for a new book that will make your heart race? The twentieth edition of The Minotaur Sampler compiles the beginnings of 4 can’t-miss novels publishing Spring/Summer 2026 for free and easy sampling.

L.M. Kemp’s I, Spy follows an ex-spy turned mother, hiding far away from her previous life. But when her family is put at risk, she’s forced to turn to old contacts who promise to keep her safe—so long as she returns to the dangerous world of espionage.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay is a twisty thriller following two people over the span of a decade whose lives are intertwined after their yearly run in with a serial killer that always strikes on May 1st.

In Olivia Worley’s Man of My Dreams, a romance author meets the love interest from the book she’s currently working on in real life; although it seems like love at first sight, the truth is stranger than fiction.

The Neighbors Are Watching by Aggie Blum Thompson follows two neighbors who team up to uncover the truth about their seemingly perfect neighborhood as scandals and secrets come to the surface.

Recently I blogged about a book called Everything Love Is.  If that book seemed like your kind of book, I am pretty certain that you would like to read Nina George’s novels.  I adored The Little Paris Bookshop with its story of how one can become isolated and yet have a richer and more meaningful life when moving beyond that unsatisfying safety.  From Amazon:  “Monsieur Perdu calls himself a literary apothecary. (INTERJECTION BY ME…WHAT COULD BE BETTER?)  From his floating bookstore in a barge on the Seine, he prescribes novels for the hardships of life. Using his intuitive feel for the exact book a reader needs, Perdu mends broken hearts and souls. The only person he can’t seem to heal through literature is himself; he’s still haunted by heartbreak after his great love disappeared. She left him with only a letter, which he has never opened.”  Will Perdu open the letter?  If he does, what will this mean to him?  Find out in this lovely book.

Confession…I have Little French Bistro but have not as yet read it.  I have been holding on to it because once I read it, I will not be able to read it for this first time ever again.  Does that make sense?  I surely do look forward to it though.

#LastOneOut #NetGalley

Jane Harper is one of my favorite Australian mystery authors. As a recent article in the Australian Women’s Weekly noted, she, and others including Dervla McTiernan and Sally Hepworth, are having their moment. For me, a new title by Harper is always welcome. This one did not disappoint.

The setting of this book is an almost ghost town. While reading I could visualize the landscape both in nature and as a place of vanished dreams and unoccupied homes. It is, itself, a major character in the novel in my opinion.

Readers get to know Ro, her husband, her daughter and her missing (dead?) son Sam in these pages. (I won’t say more so as not to give anything away about Sam.) Knowledge about all of them comes from both the present and the past. I so wanted and dreaded finding out what happened to Sam.

I was immersed in getting to know all of those around Ro including family and her friends along with everyone who lived in their small community. Watch for example the story lines about Warren, the teens in the community and many others. Their lives have been disrupted with disregard by a mining company. What it means to hang on or lose/let go of one’s home is a dilemma vividly brought to life in these pages.

As noted, Sam’s story is important but events that affect other characters in the story also very much draw the reader’s attention. This leads to a more complex work.

Anyone who likes Australian crime fiction will, I think, enjoy this book. I recommend it most highly.

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

Pub date: 23 April 2026

Post first published on 14 February 2026

Description:

from the publisher

An unforgettable small-town mystery with huge emotional resonance from International No. 1 bestselling author Jane Harper, perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Chris Whitaker and Elly Griffiths.

‘Utterly brilliant . . . I could not put it down’ – Marian Keyes
‘A book to get lost in’ – Ann Cleeves
‘Heartbreaking and wonderful’ Andrea Mara
‘I was glued to it for days’ Jennie Godfrey
‘Jane Harper delivers unbearable tension’ Val McDermid

He had been here, that was clear from the marks in the dust. And he had been alone.

In a dying town, Ro Crowley waits for her son on the evening of his twenty-first birthday.

Sam never comes home. His footprints in the dust of three abandoned houses offer the only clue to his final movements. One set in. One set out.

Five long years later, Ro returns to Carralon Ridge for the annual memorial of Sam’s disappearance. The skeletal community is now an echo of itself, having fractured under the pressure of the coal mine operating on its outskirts.

But Ro still wants answers. Only a few people remain. If the truth is to be found in that town, does it lie among them?

Last One Out is a hugely atmospheric mystery from the author of The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man, The Survivors and Exiles.

From the Publisher