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

by Colleen Cambridge

An e book bargain for 08 May 2024

#MasteringtheArtofFrenchMurder #NetGalley

Many readers will recognize that the title of this historical mystery refers to Julia Child and her classic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. And indeed, most happily, Julia, her husband (Paul), and sister (nicknamed Dort) are all found in these pages. There is also a fictional character, Tabitha, who is nowhere near the cook that Julia is but who is a good friend to her.

The story takes place in the late 1940s in Paris so I was immediately inclined to like this book. The opening has Julia trying to figure out what is wrong with her mayonnaise. Soon, she will have much bigger problems. After a party at her apartment, a body is found in the basement area of Julia’s flat. The victim was a guest and the knife used to kill her came from Julia’s kitchen. Therese also was employed at the theater where Dort works.

Tabitha, the book’s amateur sleuth, has a father who was in the police. This makes her wanting to solve the case feel credible. She has come to Paris to spend time with her grandfather and his partner who becomes like an uncle to her. They add color and relationships to the story.

This book was entertaining and fun. I liked the setting, the characters, the food and the story. Kudos to the author. She has also written a series featuring Agatha Christie’s housekeeper showing how versatile she is. I have enjoyed her contributions to the historical mystery and recommend this title. I hope that this is the start of a series.

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

Pub date: 25 April 2023 Mark your calendar

And the next in the series

This series began with last year’s Mastering the Art of French Murder. This second title is every bit as delightful.

Here is an historical mystery set in post WWII Paris. It features a fictional protagonist, Tabitha, and a friend of hers. That friend is the larger than life Julia Child. Together the two become involved in murderous situations.

This time, chefs should beware what they drink. Not too far into the novel, two have died after imbibing what should have been very special vintages. Tabitha and Julia are on the case even if the police inspector (and possible romantic interest for Tabitha) does not want their help.

What I like best in this book (and in the first one) is the evocation of Paris. When Tabitha and Julia visit a market it is easy to visualize the food and want to start cooking. And speaking of which, every time Julia is around food, and that is often, the book is so much fun.

Highly recommended to those who are foodies, those who love Paris and those who like historical mysteries. I hope there will be a third book soon

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

Pub date: 23 April 2024

From the publisher:

Algonquin, $28 (400p) ISBN 978-1-64375-039-2

Description

In this twisty Victorian detective thriller from the author of The Darwin Affair, Inspector Charles Field hunts a serial killer with a sinister signature targeting Florence Nightingale’s nurses in Crimea and women in London. 

Who is stalking Florence Nightingale and her nurses? Is it the legendary Beast of the Crimean, or someone closer to home? In 1855, Britain and France are fighting to keep the Russians from snatching the Crimean Peninsula from the Ottoman Empire, and Nightingale, a wealthy young society woman, has made it her mission to improve the wretched conditions in the British military hospitals in Turkey—despite fierce objections from the male doctors around her. When young women start turning up dead, their mouths sewn shut with embroidered fabric roses, Inspector Charles Field (the real-life inspiration for Charles Dickens’s Inspector Bucket in Bleak House) is sent from England to find the killer among the doctors, military men, journalists, and others swarming Turkey’s famous Barrack Hospital. Here Field meets both the famous Nightingale as well as Nurse Jane Rolly, the woman who will become his wife, and as he races to protect them, the prime suspect takes his own life.

Case closed. Or is it?

Twelve years later, back in London, amid the turmoil surrounding the expansion of voting rights, women again start turning up dead, their mouths covered by that telltale embroidered rose. Did Field suspect the wrong man before, or is he dealing with a deviant copycat? Either way, he must race against time to stop the killer before more bodies are discovered, and before his own family gets pulled into danger. Populated by real figures of the day, from Benjamin Disraeli to novelist Wilkie Collins to, of course, Florence Nightingale herself, and steeped in historical details of 1860s London, The Nightingale Affair plays out against a backdrop of a rapidly changing society. Most of all, it is a pure reading delight, offering shocks, unforgettably vivid scenes, and surprising twists.

My thoughts:

Anyone who enjoys historical mysteries that reference real life people will want to give this title a look. It is the second mystery by the author following on The Darwin Affair.

This time the historical personage reference is to Florence Nightingale and the time is the mid 1880s. How will the doings in the Crimea and a serial killer from that time figure into the story? Is this beast killing again or is this a red herring? Is the crime, a murder, personal or political? It will be up to Inspector Charles Field to figure out this complex and serpentine situation. This is something that he does most competently in a story that was given a starred review by Publishers Weekly. I concur.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for this title and the blog tour invite.

Hashtags:

#TheNightingaleAffair

#TimMason

#StanLee #NetGalley

I love the cover of this upcoming entry in the excellent Little People, Big Dreams series. The illustrations and story inside were also appealing.

I may be in the minority but I did not know who Stan Lee was before reading this title. (a reminder that children’s books can teach adults as well). Now, I can be impressed by what he did.

Readers learn how Stan went from being a kid with his nose always in a book to someone who wrote and created comics. The characters that Stan dreamed up have been very popular, in part because, although they are super heroes, they are also human. That humanity comes across as does Stan’s desire to give something back.

Here is a title to add to a home library that is hopefully filled with many titles by this author.

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

Pub date: 02 July 2024

Catherine Mack has written a fun and sassy mystery with unique features, perhaps especially her entertaining footnotes; they are embedded in the text.

Ms. Mack’s protagonist, Eleanor Dash, is the author of a mystery series. For reasons that readers will soon discover the handsome and dashing Connor Smith features in all of them. What are Eleanor’s feelings about him? Will she get her wish regarding Connor? Find out in this fun read with its insider’s view of publishing.

I received an e galley of this book. I love that the inside covers of the hard copy absolutely meet the feel and rhythm of the story. They are worth a look.

Readers who like mysteries with humor, pick up this debut. Many will hope that this writer will keep on writing.

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

Pub date: 30 April 2024

#TheHazelbourneLadiesMotorcycleandFlyingClub #NetGalley

Released today, 07 MAY 2024

I knew that I wanted to read this novel as soon as I saw the beautiful cover and the name of the author. Many may recognize Helen Simonson from her book Mr. Pettigrew’s Last Stand. In that work and this, Simonson writes with her own distinctive sensibility.

The Hazelbourne story begins not long after WWI has ended. Readers may think that the armistice resolved everything; however, for many figuring out a life post-war was not always easy. In this novel, the author spends time with some of those folks.

Constance grew up somewhat beholden to the family of her mother’s best friend. There were class differences between them but a relationship endured. During the war, Constance managed the family’s estate. Once the war was over, her sense of purpose was taken away since the job was given back to a man.

Poppy is a happily unconventional young woman. She seems to live as she likes. A big part of this is her motorcycle business. Riding along in one of these vehicles when driven by a woman was not expected at the time.

Poppy’s brother served and lost a limb. All he wants to do is fly again but no one will look at him as capable as the story opens.

The lives of these characters come together at a seaside hotel when Poppy asks Constance for a favor. Poppy’s mother, brother and she have seemingly taken up long term residence there While Constance is visiting as a companion to an older woman.

In addition to these main characters, many others are in these pages. In this way, the author creates a broad canvas for her story.

Lots happens as readers get to know the characters in this novel of manners that unfolds at its own leisurely pace. Issues are covered that are reflective of the time period.

Readers will become attached to many in this story and will wait to see how things l turn out. They will enjoy every bit of this over 400 page book.

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

Pub date: 07 May 2024

JK Rowling: ‘I’ve got six more books in my head’

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d66e5a79-ae2f-47ae-a16d-d97a7c58e4e2?shareToken=edeb9057424a1a1bf6e53f386ed602bc

JK Rowling: how Strike changed the way I write

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/5e241156-7ece-4f4e-80a0-1745dd5ae260?shareToken=55aece745920d29b446a68e788bfdc59

#DaylightSavingTime #NetGalley

It is an undeniable fact that we will all get older. What varies is how each individual copes with/embraces/denies this phase of development.

Anyone who would like to take a journey with someone who is aging will want to take a look at this title. It is one that takes a look at the transformations that come with this stage.

The book is written with sensitivity and a wide perspective. A number of disciplines come into play, as for example, literature.

Recommended for anyone entering this phase of life or for a younger person who wants to understand the world of someone close to them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Collective Ink Limited for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: o1 August 2024

#TheFlames #NetGalley

The Flames is a complex and well written historical fiction title that tells the story of Egon Schiele, the times in which he lived in Vienna, the women who surrounded him, and some scandals. Sound like a lot? It is but the research and assured writing of Ms. Haydock leaves readers in good hands.

Four women tell their stories; each of them longs for significance with the artist. There are those who are neighbors, relatives and models with each contributing to the narrative.

Schiele had a short life but it was certainly one that was packed with incident. The times were also intense.

I recommended this title for those who like historical fiction, complicated characters, art and, long and immersive reads.

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

This title was published in March 2023.

From the Publisher

by Jamise Harper and Jane Mount is now out

One year I purchased the Bibliophile desk calendar and absolutely adored it. I also own Bibliophile. Both are truly designed for people who love books. This title is too. The illustrations are so engaging and the book titles just call out to readers to investigate. As the title suggests, this time Jane Mount hopes to encourage readers to broaden their literary experiences.

There is so much within these pages. There are sections on classics and several on legends including, for example, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Isabel Allende and others. There are also sections one everything from contemporary fiction to family sagas to speculative fiction to mysteries and horror. There are also mentions of influential book people, little free diverse libraries, writing rooms and more. In addition, there are titles for children and middle grade readers and just way too much else to list here.

A note about the illustrations. I love the piles of books whose spines I can easily read in the pictures. They are just full of titles to add to TBR lists.

I love this book. I hope that you will too.

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

Five stars

From the Publisher

Diversify your reading list

Jamise Harper (founder of the Diverse Spines book community) and Jane Mount (author of Bibliophile) have come together to create Bibliophile: Diverse Spines, a richly illustrated and vastly inclusive collection that uplift and celebrate the works of underrepresented authors.

Jamise Harper

Jamise Harper is the creator of the #diversespines hashtag and the Diverse Spines book community on social media, which highlights literature by Black women and women of color, as well as Spines & Vines, a blog dedicated to book and wine pairings. She lives in the Washington, DC, metro area.

Jane Mount

Jane Mount is an illustrator, designer, and writer. In 2008, she founded Ideal Bookshelf, a company that makes things for bibliophiles. She currently lives in a log cabin in Hawai’i with her husband, weird cats, and a freckled puppy.

Discover endless reading inspiration while decolonizing your bookshelf

Enjoy themed illustrated book stacks across all genres from authors of color.	Travel to beloved bookstores owned by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.	Curate your to-read list with book recommendations from BIPOC literary influencers.