Now out: The Busy Body

The unnamed protagonist/narrator of this book is a ghostwriter. (It was when sitting down to write this that I realized she was never named. Kind of clever since a ghostwriter is a person who is meant to be anonymous when her work is published.) The job requires an ability to seamlessly fit into the subject’s life in an unobtrusive way. This time, the ghost has been asked to write the biography of Dorothy Gibson. Dorothy recently lost a presidential election. A bit like Hillary Clinton, it was felt that she had a low likeability rating. The biography is meant to give a new look at who she is.

The narrator quickly heads up to Maine where Dorothy lives in a gorgeous, somewhat isolated home. There she settles in and meets the staff including Dorothy’s personal assistant and various security personnel, at least one of whom is quite good looking.

Early in the book, Dorothy and our narrator go out to buy some wine. While at the store, they are accosted by a woman with a somewhat unique way of earning money. When she asks Dorothy for a selfie, Dorothy agrees. Most unfortunately soon after, Vivian dies. It emerges that her death was not suicide but…murder! (of course)

Dorothy and the narrator will be on the case. There will be a few twists before all becomes known.

The narrator of this book has her own unique, sometimes snarky spin on the world. She is most likely neurodiverse. She can be funny and seems to know a lot, perhaps from spending time learning so much about her subjects when ghostwriting. Readers will hope that she is a good detective too.

This book will be enjoyed by its readers. They will likely hope for a second book by the author.

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

Four stars ****

Would you like to join: The Summer Book Club (Susan Mallery)

#TheSummerBookClub #NetGalley

Those who have read other novels by Susan Mallery will welcome this story about a group of women and their complex lives. Those who have not read the author’s books before may want to pick this one up when they are looking for an escapist read.

The main characters are Paris, Laurel and Cassie. Each has faced challenges in life and all are trying to figure out their next steps. Paris runs a farm stand that readers will wish that they could visit as it is both adorable and stocks quality products. In the past, Paris had been abused and her own temper led to the end of her marriage. Now her ex is back in town…

Laurel’s husband left her and the school says that her older daughter constantly puts men down. They ask Laurel to fix this, a big ask as where is a good man? Laurel runs her own business as well selling on goods from estate sales and other sources.

Cassie is living in Maine when the reader first meets her. However, her family wants her to start thinking of herself and they push her to go to California to see an inheritance. 

As readers no doubt expect, these three women will get to know one another well. Readers will hope that they each find their way. As they try, the summer book club will be there for them and for the reader who may find some other suggested titles to be ones that they want to explore.

This book will appeal to readers of women’s fiction.

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

Pub date: 13 February 2024

Now out: The Wharton Plot

The Wharton Plot is an historical mystery in which (no surprise) Edith Wharton figures prominently as do the privileged of the world in which she lived. For example, early in the book Wharton attends a musicale that is given by Alice Vanderbilt in her very large home. She is acquainted with Henry James.

Readers may choose this book for the historical, the mystery or indeed both. I especially enjoyed the historical as I was familiar with a number of the locations mentioned in the book. Among these were the Arts Club on Gramercy Park, Calvary Church (where those like Roosevelts and Morgans attended) and others in New York City.. 

I also found it fascinating to learn more about Wharton. There are insights into her writing, her troubled marriage, her possible lover, the places where she lived (and wanted to live) and her writing. Readers also witness her strength of character.

A fellow writer, David Graham Phillips, is murdered. Wharton did not especially like him or his writing. She also did not like his scorn for the novels she wrote. Nevertheless, she wants to figure out what happened. Readers will enjoy spending time with her as she does in this novel based on historical fact.

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

Four stars ****

A complicated time: The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharpe (Leonie Swann)

#TheSunsetYearsofAgnesSharp #NetGalley

Older characters and detectives are having a moment in the mystery genre. It may have begun with Richard Osman and Robert Thorogood has also followed this path. In this novel, we have the older characters created by Ms. Swann in this title that was originally published in German.

A number of older folks live together. Referred to as hippies, they have their limitations.  Somehow they manage the indignities of aging. However, when two murders occur will they be able to manage…and to solve the cases?

I wanted to like this book based on all I had heard but I just found it to be okay. An issue for me was that I did not especially care for the characters who were living at Sunset Hall. I did love the illustrations and the tortoise though.

Note the following though so don’t just go by me.

A Washington Post Best Mystery Novel of 2023
A New York Times Editors’ Choice
Book Riot Most Anticipated Beach Reads of 2023
A LibraryReads August Bonus Pick

Many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press/Soho Crime for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 29 August 2024