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

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/14/books/review/europe-crime-quiz.html

A Novel

by Eliza Reid

#deathontheisland #NetGalley

My thoughts:

There is much to enjoy in this first (but hopefully not last) novel by Eliza Reid. The characters are interesting, the plot is intriguing, the author knows Iceland (the setting) very well and the pages turn.

This is a story that is set in an isolated location so it reminds me of Agatha Christie’s writing. That said, this book has its own take and authorial voice. Observe as Jane tries to sort things out. Readers will be glad that they did.

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

Pub date: 13 May 2025

About the book:

One of them is about to die.

A group of international players has gathered in a tiny village off the coast of Iceland for a diplomatic dinner. There’s Kristján, the mayor reeling from a personal tragedy. Graeme, the ambassador with an agenda to push. Jane, his wife, along for the ride on another one of her husband’s many business trips. And several others, from Iceland and from abroad, each with their own reason for being there, their own loyalties and grievances. By the end of the night, one of them will be dead. And it will be up to the ambassador’s wife, Jane, to figure out how—and why.

What Jane soon comes to realize is that small communities can be the most dangerous of them all… and no one in their group is safe. With secrets around every corner and violent weather trapping the finite list of suspects together on the island, this locked-room mystery by internationally bestselling author Eliza Reid brings Agatha Christie and Nordic noir together in a brand-new twist.

More From the Publisher:

The author:

Eliza Reid is a bestselling writer, public speaker, gender equality advocate, cofounder of the acclaimed Iceland Writers Retreat and former first lady of Iceland. She was born and raised in Canada but has lived in Iceland for over twenty years. Eliza’s first book, Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland’s Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World, was an instant bestseller in Canada and Iceland, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Pick, and translated into numerous languages. Her first novel, an Iceland-set mystery called Death on the Island (Death of a Diplomat in the UK) was an instant USA Today bestseller, an instant bestseller in Canada and Iceland, and has been optioned for television in a pre-empt deal.

From 2016 to 2024, Eliza served in the unofficial role of First Lady while her husband was President of Iceland, during which time she served as patron of numerous organizations and was named a United Nations Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals. She continues to speak at conferences and events around the world, delivering inspiring keynotes on topics relating to gender equality, how to make an impact when you’re not in charge, and storytelling for social change. A memoir of her time in the role is set for publication in spring 2026.

Some authors on this title:

“With its twisty Golden Age plot and a fascinating Nordic Noir setting, this novel is perfect for lovers of each.”
— ANN CLEEVES, New York Times bestselling author

“I loved this book. Eliza Reid is so assured in her plot and characters that it’s hard to believe this is her first novel. Death on the Island is compulsive and propulsive reading. Not only wonderfully evocative of a little-known area of Iceland, it is also surprising, with twists even a seasoned crime reader won’t see coming. A brilliant debut, that promises more to come.”
— LOUISE PENNY, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Grey Wolf

An e book bargain today

When readers who have heard of Dorothy Parker think of her, they often imagine her at the Algonquin Hotel issuing bon mots. Sarcastic and seemingly in possession of herself, many envied her. However, this historical novel about Dorothy and some of her friends and acquaintances reveals that she had many reasons to feel unsettled and unhappy. The support of three friends helped her to get through.

Early in this novel readers learn that Dorothy is having trouble finding work. She is also having many difficulties in her marriage; her husband came back from WWI a changed (and unpleasant) man. Dorothy’s friends include Jane, a newspaper reporter; Winifred who is an actress and, Peggy who works at a magazine. They form a bridge group where they not only learn to play cards but reflect on life.

These characters are surrounded by many men. They include those who spent time at the Algonquin. All are men of their time and their treatment of women is often condescending.

Will these friends find their happy/happier endings? Find out in this well written work of historical fiction.

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

This title was published in August 2022.

From the Publisher

From the publisher:

Authors Kat Hillis and Rosiee Thor make their Berkley debut with DEAD & BREAKFAST (Berkley Trade Paperback Original; on sale October 14, 2025), a hilarious breakout paranormal mystery perfect for fans of Auralee Wallace, Jenna Levine and Jesse Q. Sutanto. Gilmore Girls meets What We Do in the Shadows in this delightfully cozy next gen mystery following two vampire husbands who are embroiled in a murder scandal when the town’s mayor is found dead in the garden of their quaint bed & breakfast.

Trying to convince their small town’s paranormal-averse residents to patron their B&B is already a pain in the neck, but when one of them is implicated in the mayor’s death, Arthur and Sal must sink their teeth into solving a murder. Along the way, they enlist the help of a werewolf barista, the elven town coroner, and a very human city manager, delivering a paranormal romp with plenty of humor and heart.

This delightful small-town mystery is sure to appeal to the inner child in all of us that wishes we could climb into the world of Halloweentown. Readers will be charmed by the steadfast and loving bond between Sal and Arthur and the strong themes of found family and acceptance.

More About the Book:

In DEAD & BREAKFAST, all Arthur wants is to settle into a quiet afterlife, while his husband Salvatore seems to be made for the spotlight. They’ve compromised by becoming the new proprietors of a bed & breakfast in the idyllic, if not-so-paranormal-friendly, town of Trident Falls, Oregon. Hoping to make a good impression on their new neighbors, Arthur and Sal are thrilled when they receive their first customer—but slightly less thrilled when the mayor’s body is discovered in their begonias with what look suspiciously like fang bites on his neck. 

Ever the pragmatist and determined to prove their innocence, Arthur begins his own amateur investigation. But when a new victim is attacked, Arthur and Sal will have to race to prove they aren’t literally out for blood…unless it was ethically sourced, of course!

About the Authors

Kat Hillis is an author of queer speculative fiction full of silly jokes and twisty plots. A southerner now living in Alabama, she’s a lifelong fan of vampires, murder, and puns. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s gaming, drawing, or making handcrafted soaps.

Rosiee Thor began their career as a storyteller by demanding to tell their mother bedtime stories instead of the other way around. Now, they write stories for all ages, including young adult novels Tarnished Are The Stars and Fire Becomes Her, the picture book The Meaning of Pride, and tie-in novels for franchises like Life is Strange and Firefly. They live in Oregon with two cats, a dog, and an abundance of plants.

How it starts:

With thanks to the publisher:

Chapter 1

The lobby of the Iris Inn was dead, but, then, so were its owners. Arthur sat rigid at the front desk, eyes trained on the entrance, waiting. He didn’t strictly mind the quiet of an empty house-all the better to hear his own thoughts-but it had been quiet for so very long. Though time’s significance was beginning to slip through Arthur’s immortal fingers, it had not yet lost all meaning. So, when the front door of the old refurbished grange hall creaked open, he was glad for the interruption. A guest. At last.

The cheerful brunette had only one suitcase. A carry-on. Gray. The woman wouldn’t be staying in Trident Falls more than a night or two, by Arthur’s estimation. He wrote as much on the fluorescent pink Post-it note pressed against the oak paneling of the front desk.

“Welcome to the Iris Inn. Do you have a reservation?” She didn’t, but Arthur liked to ask all the same. It granted their little establishment an air of importance it hadn’t otherwise earned.

The woman smoothed her pressed blue blazer as she approached the counter. She wore sensible flats and an ivory satin blouse that played nicely against her medium-brown skin, and her hair was cropped and worn natural to frame her round face in tiny curls. Not exactly the rumpled and travel-worn type of guest he imagined would be the Iris Inn’s usual customer-if their bed-and-breakfast ever became successful enough to have customers, plural.

“Oh no. I’m sorry. I didn’t think to call ahead.” The wheels of her suitcase clicked along the hardwood floor as she approached the desk. “Mr. Roth seemed sure you’d have room for me.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow at the mention of Trident Falls’ inept excuse for a mayor and bent his head to check his nonexistent calendar for nonexistent bookings.

The suitcase squeaked to a halt as the woman compressed the handle.

Arthur turned his attention to the sticky note where, under the word suitcase, he wrote old.

“We should be able to find room for you.” Arthur eyed her bag warily. No one stayed in Trident Falls for long if they could help it, but that wasn’t going to stop him from trying. He gestured to the stack of tourism brochures on the desk, boldly displaying a fuzzy photo obviously taken in the previous millennium of a smiling family carrying backpacks in front of a fluorescent orange tent. “Perhaps you’d enjoy a day hike to the falls.”

About the Authors

Kat Hillis is an author of queer speculative fiction full of silly jokes and twisty plots. A southerner now living in Alabama, she’s a lifelong fan of vampires, murder, and puns. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s gaming, drawing, or making handcrafted soaps.

Rosiee Thor began their career as a storyteller by demanding to tell their mother bedtime stories instead of the other way around. Now, they write stories for all ages, including young adult novels Tarnished Are The Stars and Fire Becomes Her, the picture book The Meaning of Pride, and tie-in novels for franchises like Life is Strange and Firefly. They live in Oregon with two cats, a dog, and an abundance of plants.

My thoughts:

I read many mysteries but had never encountered protagonists like Arthur and Sal or read a paranormal mystery. That said, I very much liked the two who, although vampires, face many issues that anyone might, along with some extra complications. Their wish for a home is something that is easy to relate to. Add to this some murder and mayhem, and those who like this sub-genre will be delighted, I think.

I loved the title of this story. I hope that it is the first in a series.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for this title and opportunity.

I will start by saying that I highly recommend this title which is a story of Germany in the aftermath of WWII.  Set in several countries, including Britain, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, it is the story of the titular Edith Graham. As the novel opens,  Miss Graham is an educator living at home with her mother, a life that she finds somewhat dull and meaningless. When she is offered the opportunity to go to Germany to help with the re-establishment of educational facilities, she is really for the change and challenge. But…much more is in store for Edith.
Readers learn that, before the war,Edith was in love with a handsome, smart, German man named Kurt. Miss Graham also became close to his wife Elisabeth. What happened to this couple during WWII? How did they survive?  What did they do? What happened to them afterwards? Their story line forms a large part of the narrative.
Around Edith are various agents, each with their own, and sometimes overlapping, agendas. There are Dori, Vera and Adeline for the women, each of whom has been shaped by their wartime experiences. In addition, there are the men; they represent the U.S. and the British. What are their agendas? How will these intersect with those of the women?
There is espionage here and, after a slightly slow start, a book that had me turning the pages and connecting with the characters. In addition to an excellent plot, the book raises a number of issues: what was life like for the Germans as the Americans, Russians and British entered their defeated country? How do people survive when they have nothing, not even food? Do ends justify means? Who can be trusted? Can there be justice in a world that has been turned upside down?
As readers follow the story, each chapter begins with an entry from Miss Graham’s Cold War Cookbook. Readers will learn the significance of these menus as they become involved with the novel.
I have read many books of historical fiction about WWII. This one is a bit different in that it largely takes place after the war. It is a compelling read and one that I recommend most highly. I give it five stars, something I do not often do.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date:  July 7, 2020

#MissGrahamsColdWarCookbook #NetGalley

An Italian Cookbook

by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich-Manuali

My thoughts:

This cookbook will be welcomed by home cooks who enjoy pasta. Here are recipes for pasta with tomato sauce, vegetables, fish, cheese, meat sauce, soups, salad and more. All of these are offered by one of the best Italian cooks of all.

Before going to the recipes, readers will want to look at the beginning sections of the book. There is much helpful information to be found there.

The directions for the recipes are clear. The photos will make mouths water.

This is a terrific book to add to the shelves of those who enjoy Italian food.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 14 October 2025

From the publisher:

The ultimate pasta cookbook; 100+ authentic Italian recipes, from the bestselling author, television icon, and “doyenne of Italian cooking” (The New York Times).

No one knows pasta like Lidia Bastianich. Through her bestselling cookbooks and award-winning television programs, she has introduced generations of home cooks to the wonders of Italy’s greatest export. Now, for the first time, she has compiled her decades of expertise into one authoritative volume: the definitive book on pasta.

An utterly indispensable resource for every kitchen, Lidia’s The Art of Pasta is a one-stop guide to pasta in every form, from Old World classics like Ricotta Gnocchi and cacio e pepe to Italian American favorites like Manicotti and Lasagna Napoletana.

Recipes include:
•Spaghetti with Lobster Sauce
•Pumpkin Ravioli with Butter and Sage
•Bucatini all’Amatriciana
•Italian Mac and Cheese
•Spaghetti and Meatballs
•Trenette with Pesto Genovese
•Fettucine Alfredo

Through more than a hundred simple, perfect recipes, Lidia showcases pastas of all kinds—both fresh and dried, stuffed, baked, and sauced; in soups and pasta salads; plus, of course, directions for making fresh pasta doughs and sauces at home. The one-stop guide to all things pasta, the book is filled with simple, authentic, flavor-forward Italian dishes that the whole family will love. Tutti a tavola a mangiare!

More From the Publisher:

Her Majesty The Queen Investigates

by SJ Bennett

#ADeathinDiamonds #NetGalley

A Death in Diamonds is the fourth entry in this most enjoyable series that offers readers Queen Elizabeth the sleuth, and what a talented detective she is. This title can be read on its own but readers will, I think, enjoy every one of the earlier books as well.

This time, a Bishop’s bolthole is the site of the murders of a couple seemingly having an assignation. The woman is wearing a valuable tiara that, it turns out, Princess Margaret had wanted to possess.

Who are these two? Why were they killed? Are their murders related to a series of subtle threats and annoyances that Queen Elizabeth has been facing? Is someone in the Queen’s most inner circle, in fact, unworthy of her trust?

As the Queen cannot do everything (after all, she has many other duties), she looks to help from her newest employee, the formidable Joan, to assist. The two communicate in varied ways, including by sending messages through what others will see as the frivolity of the Queen’s fashion.

What I most enjoy in this series is the reasonably plausible way in which the Queen’s life is portrayed. There are interactions between her and Philip and with Charles and Anne, the two children who are alive at the time that the story is set. The mysteries themselves also offer a fun read.

It is easy to recommend this title to Anglophiles and lovers of traditional mysteries. I look forward to the next in this series.

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

Pub date: 21 January 2025

The audio book:

How fortunate listeners are to have actress Samantha Bond read this story. She carries the story along and is a delightful companion throughout the audio. I feel that her British intonation adds a sense of verisimilitude to the novel.

Many thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this excellent audio title.

All opinions are my own.

Look for reviews of these others in the series on my blog:

Jo Callaghan’s first novel was easily one of my favorite crime stories of 2024. All of the elements that made me love that book are back in Leave No Trace, the second in this series. These include characters with depth (and backstory), a plot that keeps the pages turning, and the use of a unique sidekick to detective Kat Frank.

AIDE is an AI created detective. Through a hologram, he looks very real. His thoughts, although at times concrete because of a lack of understanding of nuance, are often key to the case. It has been enjoyable to watch the “relationship” between Kat and AIDE evolve. That is just one of the joys of the series.

This time, Kat has asked for a “live” as compared to historical case. The one that she is given is rather grim. A man has been found at the top of a local landmark and he has been gruesomely murdered. The case will lead to fear and warnings to young men.

Readers know that the case will be solved. The enjoyment is in watching how the team accomplishes this.

Kudos to the author. I am already eager for book three.

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

Five 🌟 stars

Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives

by Gretchen Rubin

#SecretsofAdulthood #NetGalley

Gretchen Rubin has been offering her wisdom to readers over the course of many books. She began with The Happiness Project and most recently Life in Five Senses, with several others in between.

This title is a bit different from some of Rubin’s others in that it consists of a series of aphorisms-dictionary definition is “a pithy observation that contains a general truth.” Rubin compiled these for herself and her family. She now shares them with her readers.

This is a title that can be dipped in and out of. It is divided into sections including Cultivating Ourselves, Facing the Perplexities of Relationships, Making Things Happen, Confronting Life’s Dilemmas, and more. Each of sections has a number of entries as for example, Comfort, Responsibility and, Getting It Wrong.

This book could make a nice graduation gift for someone. Those who are not of school age may also find wisdom here. For myself, I think that aphorisms were not quite enough. I wish that there had been more commentary. However, that was not the author’s intention. She was looking for short, meaningful things to guide others.

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

Self-Help

176 pages

Pub date: 01 April 2025

Note: Gretchen Rubin is interviewed in the May edition of Psychologies magazine.

An earlier title by the author:

An e book bargain-Life in Five Senses

For many readers, including me, just seeing Katherine Cemter’s name on the cover of a book is enough to make it a must read. Center is a master of writing stories with good characters, plots that keep the pages turning and, most importantly, humor and heart. Readers come to care about her characters and their lives, almost as if they are real people. This book is no exception.

Emma is woman with unrealized dreams and potential. She works freelance on writing projects for her old high school boyfriend. Emma’s father was in a catastrophic accident and requires her to be around full time. Her sister has, in some ways, been living out Emma’s dreams. She has gotten to go away to college and is about to begin a prestigious internship as the story opens.

A plot twist then comes. Logan, the high school boyfriend, offers Emma a ghost writing job with her absolute idol, screenwriter, Charlie Yates. Let’s just say that Emma has an unbelievable crush on Charlie and his films. However, his latest attempt, an update of one of Emma’s favorite movies (It Happened One Night) is an absolute disaster.

So…Emma makes the necessary arrangements for what she thinks will be the job and experience of a lifetime and flies out to L.A. Okay…I’ve set the scene but don’t want to spoil the fun by saying anything else.

This book is a perfect summer read. Anyone who picks it up will be sorry to see it end.

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

Pub date: 11 June 2024

The Audio Version

I both read and listened to this book, enjoying the audio when I was going for walks or doing household stuff. As a real treat, it is partly narrated by the author. The audio is excellent and invites the reader right in.

Either way (or both) that is chosen, here is a book to put on a must read list.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for this delightful listen.