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

This book is published on 13 January 2026!

#Winter #NetGalley

I have long been a fan of Val McDermid’s crime fiction. I truly think that she is one of the very best writers of Tartan Noir. This book, though, is something different. It is personal.

In these pages (complete with woodcut illustrations), McDermid muses on winter. The prose is quite evocative. Reading these pages, McDermid may just change a person’s mind about a season that some find cold and bleak.

I read this book in small increments. I wanted to savor it. It is short and I wanted it to last.

Whether or not a person has read this author’s other books, they are in for a treat with this one. So, come to Scotland this winter. The (meditative) journey will be worth it.

Many thanks to Grove Atlantic-Atlantic Books and NetGalley for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 13 January 2026

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Description:

From the U.S. publisher

In this radiant work of creative nonfiction, internationally beloved novelist Val McDermid delivers a dazzling ode to a lost world, ruminating on a single winter in her life as she journeys into the heart of the season’s ever-evolving community-based traditions

Val McDermid has always had a soft spot for winter: the bitter clarity of a crisp cold day, the crunch of frost on fallen leaves, and the chance to be enveloped in big jumpers and thick socks.

In Winter, McDermid takes us on an adventure through the season, from the frosty streets of Edinburgh to the windblown Scottish coast, from Bonfire Night and Christmas to Burns Night and Up Helly Aa. Recalling in parallel memories from her own childhood—of skating over frozen lakes and carving a “neep” (rutabaga) for Halloween to being taken to see her first real Christmas tree in the town square—McDermid offers a wise and enchanting meditation on winter and its ever-changing, sometimes ephemeral, traditions.

A hygge-filled journey through winter nights, McDermid reminds us that it is a time of rest, retreat and creativity, for scribbling in notebooks and settling in beside the fire. A treat for the hunkering-down, post-holiday reading season, Winter is a charming and cozy celebration of the year’s idle months from one of Scotland’s best-loved writers.

From the Publisher

From the British edition

#ASprinkleofSweetSerendipity #NetGalley

Sometimes the right book just comes along when it is needed. Maybe that is part of the magic of this author’s books. This was a comfort read exactly when I needed one. It is perfect for when a non-stressful read is wanted.

Emmie has returned home from a burgeoning career as a chocolate maker in Europe because her family needs her help. Emmie takes over her parents’ fudge shop, emotionally supports her mother who has a chronic health problem, and does her very best to care for her young son. She literally (and metaphorically) has a lot on her plate.

Emmie is surrounded by many others, perhaps most importantly Jakob whom she dated in high school. Also key is Henry whose TV show Emmie regularly watches. Imagine her surprise when Henry comes to her town for the summer.

Linden usually puts a bit of magic in her books. Here she inserts a special candle that tells the women of Emmie’s family their future. Will what she sees be what Emmie wants? Is there any room for interpretation?

The setting in a small Pacific Coast town with Norwegian roots (that really exists!) is lovingly described. I could so easily picture the Main Street and its’ shops.

Linden very talks about the importance of finding what a person wants in life. This is a very valid message but I think could perhaps have used a tad lighter touch.

Those who enjoy small towns, romance, stories about family and friends, and, of course, chocolate will want to pick up this title.

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

Pub date: 19 May 2026

Post first published on 12 January 2026

Description:

A tantalizing novel about a struggling chocolatier who is granted a magical vision of the future of her dreams, only to realize that her heart may desire something else entirely, from the bestselling author of The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie.

Paris trained chocolatier and single mother Emmie Wynne gave up her own dreams six years ago when she returned to her Pacific Northwest coastal tourist town to run her family’s struggling candy store. Now on her thirty-fourth birthday, Emmie has only one wish, to be granted the vision that every Wynne woman is given once in her lifetime—a shimmering glimpse of her true destiny. This year, when she blows out her candles, it finally comes true.

Her vision is more delectable than she could’ve imagined—her very own artisanal chocolate shop filled with decadent truffles and caramels, and her celebrity crush, Henry Summers, down on one knee. And when Henry suddenly arrives in town for the summer, offering Emmie the opportunity of a lifetime, the future in her vision suddenly seems possible.

But a rekindled connection with Jakob, her former high school best friend turned hunky, brooding tattooed baker, forces Emmie to grapple with the bittersweet realization that her destiny may not be what her heart truly longs for. As the culmination of her vision draws nearer, can Emmie find the courage to create a happiness of her own making?

Also by Rachel Linden:

Spotlight on The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake

About the Author:

from Amazon

Rachel Linden is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures in more than fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her writing. She is the author of The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake, Recipe for a Charmed Life, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, Ascension of Larks, Becoming the Talbot Sisters, and The Enlightenment of Bees. Currently, Rachel lives with her family on a sweet little island in the Pacific Northwest where she enjoys creating stories about hope, courage, and connection with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy

A new release by Marie Benedict is always most welcome. Here is the superb audio of that title. It is narrated by Bessie Carter (who recently played Nancy Mitford in Outrageous) and is the daughter of Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter. While she has well-known parents, she is a talent in her own right. She narrates the sections related to Evelyn Herbert. I loved the parts of the book where she was the reader. Suehyla El-Attar also is a terrific narrator for the sections on Hatshepsut. Together the two work well together.

Those looking for an excellent audio book to listen to won’t go wrong choosing this one.

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

Release date: 24 March 2026

Description:

Known for her “delightful blend of historical fiction and suspense” (People), New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict, returns with a sweeping tale of a young woman who unearths the truth about a forgotten Pharaoh—rewriting both of their legacies forever.

In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert—daughter of Lord Carnarvon—whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary—and nearly erased from history.

When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about her reign and keep valued artifacts in Egypt, their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy—or forge her own.

Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, Daughter of Egypt is the story of two ambitious women who lived centuries apart. Both were forced to hide who they were during their lifetimes, yet ultimately changed history forever.

#MayContainMurder #NetGalley

This title is Murrin’s sophomore effort, following on Knife Skills for Beginners. Both feature an amateur sleuth who is also a chef. This means that there is a lot of delightful information about food and meals in the books.

This time Paul is on a sea cruise. He was invited by a wealthy female friend. She has just married Sir Billy. Will their happiness last? What will become of the very, very expensive necklace that Xera was given by him?

This book is peopled with so many characters. They include the crew of the private yacht and the guests. Not all of them are likeable. And, of course, one of them will be murdered, leaving Paul to figure things out.

I liked many things about this book but did find the plot to require significant suspension of disbelief. Still, I believe that Murrin had great fun while writing his tale. His sense of humor is quite evident. For example, the yacht is named the Maldemer (anyone who has studied French knows that this refers to seasickness!).

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

Pub date: 16 December 2025

Post first published on 11 January2026

Description:

from the publisher

For fans of Nita Prose, Benjamin Stevenson, and Jessa Maxwell, this delightfully witty and tightly-written new locked room culinary mystery from the MasterChef semi-finalist, cookbook writer, and bestselling author of Knife Skills for Beginners features a charming chef, delicious original recipes, and a killer cruise aboard a luxurious superyacht.

“If it weren’t for all the terrible things that have been happening, I’d consider myself the luckiest man alive . . .”

While his flooded house undergoes repairs, chef-turned-writer Paul Delamare has been offered an accommodation upgrade—an all-expenses-paid trip aboard a private superyacht in the company of Xéra, one of his dearest friends. Paul will help Xéra work on her memoirs as Maldemer glides its sumptuous way to the Caribbean. The scenery is stunning, the luxury is unparalleled, and the food…well, at least the dishes that Paul is roped into preparing are delicious. The hired chef, meanwhile, seems completely out of her depth.

She’s not the only one. Much as Paul adores Xéra, a Parisian socialite who he was introduced to by his late lover, Marcus, he has little in common with the other guests, a motley crew consisting of Xéra’s new husband and his grasping family. 

When Xéra’s priceless new necklace goes missing, Paul falls under suspicion. But there’s far worse in store, as one of the passengers is found dead in mysterious and grisly circumstances. The stormy weather matches the threatening mood onboard, and as Maldemer veers off course, every semblance of order goes with it.

Above and below deck there are secrets and dangerous alliances. And as he untangles the truth, it becomes clear that Paul’s sharing close quarters with a killer eager to make this his final voyage . . .

From the Publisher

An e book bargain

#OtherPeoplesHouses #NetGalley

I was lucky enough to hear Clare Mackintosh speak not long after I had read the first book in her Ffion Morgan series. That was an enjoyable experience.

I have since read books 2 and 3 in the series with the third one being Other People’s Houses. I was delighted to spend time in Ffion’s world again, both professionally and in her off duty life.

Mackintosh has created a number of series characters whom I was happy to again see. These include Ffion’s former husband, her new love and his son, her daughter, her mother and, of course her dog. He is a handful.

Ffion is an officer in Wales while Leo, her boyfriend, works with the English police. Their cases often overlap as they do here.

Leo has been investigating a number of break ins in a wealthy enclave. As it turns out, his former wife does not live there but is close by and is trying to ingratiate herself with her upscale neighbors. Meanwhile, there has been a murder in Wales of a female realtor. Readers will observe as the cases intersect.

Readers will also follow a crime podcast of a cold case. Will this become relevant to Leo and Ffion’s case?

I highly recommend this series. The settings are well done, the characters are interesting, readers will hope that Ffion and Leo can keep their relationship going and the snarky bits are fun.

Recommended to fans of Welsh and English crime, those who like series and those who enjoy a good crime story. Publishers Weekly states that “…mystery readers of all stripes will find something to like.”

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

Pub date: 16 September 2025

Another in the series:

Observe: A Game of Lies (Clare Mackintosh)

Another book by the author:

Fasten your seatbelts: Hostage by Clare Mackintosh

#HereOneMoment #NetGalley

What a concept! Imagine you are on a plane. You have your reasons for being there, things that you are thinking about and have settled in. Imagine that in the midst of whatever you are doing, a woman stands in front of you and tells you when you will die and of what. How would you react? How intense would that be? This is the monumental basis for Moriarty’s latest novel. No spoiler-she spectacularly pulls it off.

Get to know many characters. They are of different ages, sexes, experiences. How will they move forward when they have this information? Will it be true? Who is the woman making the predictions? Read this long (500 plus pages) novel that is divided into many short sections to find out. See if it will change you.

Highly recommended.

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

Pub date: 10 September 2024

From the Publisher

www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/books/vacation-travel-romance-books.html

www.nytimes.com/article/emily-henry-books.html

#SomedayThisWillBeaFunnyStory #NetGalley

Nora Ephron was a writer who was beloved by many for her insight, wit and warmth. The world lost a person with a unique point of view when she died.

Here is a chance for those who read her works (and those new to her) to get bite sized pieces of her wisdom. Find what you are looking for within these topics: Reading and Writing; Parents and Children; Marriage and Divorce; New York City; Food; Style, Beauty and Getting Older; and, How to Live, Love, and, When Necessary Get Over It.

This is a book to dip in and out of. It is nicely laid out and has appealing illustrations. It would make a great gift for someone (or one’s self).

Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage & Anchor along with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 10 March 2025

Post first published on 10 January 2026

Description:

From “the queen of quips” (The New York Times) comes an inspiring and hilarious quote collection about everything that matters—love and heartbreak, good food and good company, aging well and writing well

We all want a best friend like Nora Ephron: frank but forgiving, wry but caring, someone who knows not only what to say but how to say it.

Don’t know what to wear? “Everything matches black, especially black.”

Trouble in love? “You can never know the truth of anyone’s marriage, including your own.”

Searching for a new belief system? “My religion is Get Over It.”

Here is the best of Nora for every season of life, across her storied career, from her early days in the news media to becoming the author of a cult classic novel, to her unexpected turn as a legendary Hollywood writer. Nora saw it all, and with a wicked sense of humor and shrewd intellect, she made it all deliciously funny. Filled with unforgettable lines, this is a celebration of Nora’s singular wit and generosity—start at the beginning, or flip to any page for instant delight.

In my opinion, Marie Benedict is among the best of the current writers of historical fiction. Here, once again, the author has succeeded in writing an absorbing story that is based upon historical fact. Unlike in her earlier novels, this time she tells the story of six important characters (rather than one) who were sisters. They were so different from each other that it is hard to believe that they had the same parents.

The family included one son, Tom and many daughters. There was Nancy, the novelist. Diana was beautiful, married to one of (those) Guinnesses but she left

Bryan to be with the Fascist Oswald Mosley. Unity was somewhat of a fanatic who was deeply enamored of Hitler while Jessica was a Communist. There were also younger sisters Debo and Pamela.

Benedict tells her chapters from different characters points of view. She often has characters detailing their experiences in the same time frame.

There is a very rich history in this family. Readers will enjoy learning more about the Mitfords in this well written story.

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

From the Publisher