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.
Anyone who was/is a fan of the TV series will want to pick up Murder by Cheesecake. Here they will find the familiar friends entangled in a murder mystery when Dorothy’s date is found dead in the titular cheesecake. Will the group solve the murder? Will the wedding that brought them to Florida actually take place? Read this one to find out.
Here is a fun and enjoyable book that is not too long but has enough plot to fill up the pages. Even a reader with no prior knowledge of the GGs can enjoy this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this book. All opinions are my own.
Imagine that your family sends you (alone) to the U.S. because of financial hardship in Ireland and you will need to support your relatives back home. Imagine that you are able to take on someone else’s identity to become the servant of Andrew Carnegie’s mother. Will you be found out? Will your position be secure? These are among the premises of this richly detailed historical novel. Relationships between upstairs and downstairs, specifically between Clara and Andrew Carnegie are a major part of this novel. Read it too to learn more about the business world and women’s roles in the post Civil War U.S. Overall, an enjoyable read.
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Murder disrupts the routine for four quirky librarians who hide among books to keep their secrets in this mystery from USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas.
Sometimes a workplace isn’t just a workplace but a place of safety, understanding, and acceptance. And sometimes murder threatens the sanctity of that beloved refuge…. In the leafy suburbs of Austin, Texas, a small branch library welcomes the public every day of the week. But the patrons who love the helpful, unobtrusive staff and leave rave reviews on Yelp don’t always realize that their librarians are human, too.
Hazel flees halfway across the world for what she hopes will be a new beginning. Jonathan, a six-foot-four former college football player, has never fit in anywhere else. Astrid tries to forget her heartbreak by immersing herself in work, but the man who ghosted her six months ago is back, promising trouble. And Sophie, who has the most to lose, maintains a careful and respectful distance from her coworkers, but soon that won’t be enough anymore.
When two patrons turn up dead after the library’s inaugural murder mystery–themed game night, the librarians’ quiet routines come crashing down. Something sinister has stirred, something that threatens every single one of them. And the only way the librarians can save the library—and themselves—is to let go of their secrets, trust one another, and band together….
All in a day’s work.
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas is one of the most acclaimed historical romance authors writing today and a two-time RITA Award winner.
Reviews:
“An irresistible ensemble and a raft of surprises as crime-solving librarians solve double murder mysteries while guarding their own secrets…This knockout mystery mixes the camaraderie of The Thursday Murder Club with the chic family and romantic drama of Crazy Rich Asians. Thomas’ virtuosity shows in this fast-paced and intricate yet emotionally moving mystery.”—Kirkus (STARRED)
“Richly infused with a deliciously dry wit, graced with intriguingly nuanced characters, and enhanced with several subplots that will remind readers of just how good a romance writer Thomas is, this is a thoughtfully entertaining, stunningly satisfying treat.”—Booklist(STARRED)
“Thomas takes her time to introduce each of her characters and give them space to develop so that readers will root for each and every one. For fans of Richard Osman’s “Thursday Murder Club” series and Tess Gerritsen’s Martini Club.”—Library Journal
My thoughts:
The Librarians is the first book that I have read by Thomas who will now become one of my favorite authors. Her earlier books were historical mysteries, I think, while this one is contemporary.
There were many things that I loved about this title. Scenes set in libraries appeal to me most definitely. I also very much enjoyed getting to know the four main characters and their backstories.
Readers meet Astrid, who has hidden something about her identity; Hazel, who has left behind a tricky past involving her husband; Sophie, who did something that she should not have but had reasons for it; and last, Jonathan who has taken time to accept his identity.
When two murders occur, there are complex links and actions binding these four librarians to one another. Who killed a man who ghosted Astrid only to reappear? Why was a woman who came to an evening event at the library found murdered that very night? What is it like for characters when people from their pasts reappear? Finding out will keep readers turning the pages.
Spending time in this book’s worlds (Austin, Singapore, Madeira), with its characters, and in its timeline made for a very fun read.
I am eager to see what Ms. Thomas does next.
Kirkus Reviews states: “This knockout mystery mixes the camaraderie of The Thursday Murder Club with the chic family and romantic drama of Crazy Rich Asians. Thomas’ virtuosity shows in this fast-paced and intricate yet emotionally moving mystery.” True.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
A magical cookbook and a summer on her family’s Italian olive farm help a brokenhearted social media chef cook up a satisfying new life in this delectable novel from the bestselling author of Recipe for a Charmed Life.
Rising star Jules Costa loves re-creating vintage recipes for her popular online cooking show. When personal and professional disaster strikes though, her only chance to save her career is to complete her new cookbook before the end of the summer. Panicked, Jules returns to her family’s beloved olive farm on the shores of Italy’s stunning Lake Garda. Seeking culinary inspiration, she’s hoping to convince her spunky eighty-year-old nonna Bruna to share her precious collection of family recipes.
Jules’s plans quickly go awry as she discovers that Nonna’s cookbook has magical and unpredictable powers. It reveals only one recipe at a time, offering a cooking experience guaranteed to satisfy the chef’s palate and bring clarity to their life. Yet the pages remain stubbornly blank for Jules. To make matters worse, the olive farm is in deep financial trouble, and Jules soon uncovers a web of family secrets involving the cookbook and a lost recipe for Orange Blossom Cake that holds the key to everything. Then there’s Nicolo, the boy next door, who broke her young heart years ago. He is now all grown up, even more attractive, and the only person poised to help Jules find answers.
In a whirlwind summer beyond her imagination, Jules begins to unravel the mysteries baked into her family’s history and discovers the essential ingredients to create the future of her dreams.
About the author:
Rachel Mae Linden (who also writes as Rachel Linden) is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures in over fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her writing. She is the author of Recipe for a Charmed Life, The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie, and several other novels. Currently Rachel lives with her family on a sweet little island near Seattle, WA where she enjoys creating stories about hope, courage and connection with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy.
To learn more about Rachel Linden, visit her website or find her on Facebook or Instagram.
How it begins (with thanks to Berkley):
Chapter 1
The summer that changes my life begins with a bright orange molded Jell-O salad.
“A Jell-O salad just feels perfect for June, don’t you think?” I chatter breezily to my roommate and cohost Drew as I set out grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and a big box of lemon Jell-O on the kitchen counter of our apartment, arranging all the ingredients in a pleasingly photogenic way. “Now that we’re finally getting some sunshine, I think a molded gelatin salad is just the thing for this last segment.” Only this week did it finally feel like summer in Seattle after months of gray drizzle.
Drew adjusts the lights and recording equipment, fine-tuning before we start shooting. It’s late afternoon on a Sunday in mid-June, and we’re getting ready to record the last of the short cooking show segments we release each week on Instagram. We’re using our day off to film an entire month’s worth of segments for our show The Bygone Kitchen, just as we have once a month for the past five years.
“I just don’t get the appeal of Jell-O salad,” Drew admits. “It feels like old lady at a church potluck type of food.” He shoots me a wry, dimpled grin. “I’d go for a craft brew IPA and some cheese curds over Jell-O any day.” (Drew is from Wisconsin, a state in which cheese features prominently in the comfort food category.)
“Scandalous!” I gasp in mock outrage, rearranging a few ingredients on the counter so I can grab everything easily as we are filming. “Clearly, you don’t understand the positive power of Jell-O salad. I’m convinced any sadness or disappointment in life can be helped by a nice big scoop. And there are so many to choose from. Sunshine Salad, cherry cola Salad, strawberry pretzel Salad, orange sherbet Salad, broken glass Salad . . .”
My thoughts:
This is a lovely story about adapting to change, questioning assumptions, planning life’s next steps, family, loss, food, Italy, and romance. So much to like in these pages.
As the story opens Jules feels as if things are going well. Along with her roommate, she does a short video each week that features recipes from the past-think jello mold for one. Jules thinks that a big break is about to come-does it? Find out early in the story.
Jules has faced loss. Her mother left the family for a new relationship. The subsequent death of her father was a real cause of grief. In this novel, she will come to understand more about her family and herself and will put her life pieces back together.
One thread of the story centers on the cookbook contract that Julia must fulfill. She has a summer to do it but is very stuck. The novel brings her and her half sister (whom Jules had thought had a perfect life-but does she?) to Italy. Here Jules will spend time with her beloved grandmother and try to unblock and create her book. Still, she wonders, why can’t she see the pages of her grandmother’s beloved recipe book which are blank to her but not her grandmother.
In Italy, Jules will again meet her teenage first love. Yes, readers will want to know how this goes. Oh, and don’t forget the book’s title-what is the significance of the orange blossom cake?
There are many reasons to pick up this book. The pages turn in this appealing novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Phryne Fisher is a woman who lives her life the way that she wants and does not apologize for it. Readers may be familiar with her from other books in the long running series. Others may know Phryne from her TV exploits in Miss Fisher’s Mysteries on Acorn TV. Either (or both) ways or even if a reader does not already know her, it is worth while spending time with this protagonist. (Those new to the series do not have to have read the other books but will just have to accept that they do not know all of the characters’ backstories.)
A lot (!) is going on in this book. It opens with a scene that may well jar current sensibilities as an Asian character is called something maybe appropriate to the time of the story but not to our times. Why was this raid done? Was it successful?
At the same time, there are other subplots. Phrnye’s adopted daughters are volunteering at an institute for the blind where someone may indeed be turning a blind eye to discrepancies in the books. Also, why has one of Phryne’s daughter been locked in the music room?
Phrnye find a body (as she tends to). Is this connected to opium pipes that were found in a garden? Who is sending Phryne poisoned pen notes about her personal life (she does have a habit of taking lovers of whom Jeoffrey appears to the the latest)? What is happening with her Asian lover? And to her relationship with police officer Jack?
There are also two women (lovers) who have escaped their institution. Who are they working (and dancing) for?
Will all of these plot lines come together? It will be a test of Ms. Greenwood’s abilities but she has done it before. Follow her lead in 1920s Melbourne where the story takes place. It is an enjoyable read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this title. All opinions are my own.
As far as I know, this favorite author of mine has not written a mystery like this one before. Well, here is yet another tour de force by Ms. Benedict. It feels like she is skilled at writing both a detective story and historical fiction. I recommend it highly.
Many know who the Queens of Crime were. This group included Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Baroness Orczy, and Margery Allingham. They all have prominent roles in this enjoyable story that is narrated by Dorothy Sayers.
At the time that the story was set, a number of male writers of detective fiction decided to band together in a society. Well, the women wanted a part of this too and pushed their way into the Detection Club.
In this story, these women want to prove their worth by solving a real case. They become involved in figuring out what happened to a British nurse who was murdered in France. They are intrepid in following clues, making hypotheses, and working to bring matters to a resolution.
Along with the crime story, readers are given insight into who these women of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction were. I enjoyed these parts of the story and also what was shared about the creation of their novels.
All in all, this is a most engaging read that fans of historical crime fiction and Benedict will enjoy. I think that Benedict will find some new enthused readers as well.
Note: I am a fan of toggling between the audio and reading editions of titles. They complement one another and add to my enjoyment. In this instance, the audio book narrator did a wonderful job of speaking in the voices of each of the main characters. This added to my pleasure in this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. Also, thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audio book. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 11 February 2025
Another forthcoming title featuring these characters:
Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle, or, a better metaphor, if dated, the links of a long chain, and even if those links are never put back together, which they will certainly never be, even if they remain for the rest of time dispersed across the earth like the fragile blown seeds of a dying dandelion, isn’t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one’s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?” Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it. Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.
Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.
Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime. Sybil Van Antwerp’s life of letters might be “a very small thing,” but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read.
About the author:
Virginia Evans is from the east coast of the United States. She attended James Madison University for her bachelor’s in English literature. After starting a family, she went back to school for her master’s of philosophy in creative writing at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where she had the good fortune to study under Carlo Gébler, Eoin McNamee, Claire Keegan, Harry Clifton and Kevin Power. She now lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with her husband, Mark, two children, Jack and Mae, and her Red Labrador, Brigid.
My thoughts:
Anyone who remembers a time when snail mail was all there was, anyone who enjoys receiving mail (maybe just a birthday card once a year), anyone who longs for letters and loves the way writers express themselves in them will most definitely want to read this book. I am so very glad that I did.
This entire story unfolds in the letters that Sibyl writes. As she composes them, the reader get to know her and those around her. Sibyl has taken on many roles over her long life-she has been an attorney, a wife, a mother, a sister-in-law, a friend, a neighbor, a class auditor…and the list goes on. Sibyl expresses herself so well on paper in this book that is a love letter to the epistolary form.
Those who appreciate good fiction that is well written will absolutely want to pick this one up. It is a title to savor.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.
PS. Watch for who Sibyl writes to (Joan Didion for one) and the books that she is reading. They enhanced my experience with this novel.
Anthony Horowitz is a creative and imaginative author of complex mysteries. This book follows on his earlier novel, The Magpie Murders that also featured Susan Ryeland and the story within a story detective, Atticus Pund. I liked this title more than that first title in the series.
When the story starts, Susan has left England to run a hotel on a Greek island. It seems that venture is beginning to pale so when the opportunity comes to return to England, Susan is on her way. Susan is asked to investigate the disappearance of a hotelier’s daughter. Cecily was not seen again after calling her parents to tell them that, based on an Atticus Pund novel, she believes that a guest murdered at the hotel a number of years previously, was not killed by the accused and then convicted hotel worker. Does this sound a bit confusing and convoluted? Well, it just may be.
Susan investigates the case and, as part of her research, rereads the Atticus Pund book. That novel is very cleverly inserted in the middle of the book. I found this to be so appealing. There was the book cover, the blurbs, the copyright, everything one would expect but, again, it is a novel within the novel.
Will Susan solve the case? What happened to the missing daughter? Who committed the murder at the hotel and that is then fictionalized in the Pund book? There are many characters and there is lots to solve here.
This book is original and intriguing. I very much enjoyed it. It is long at over 600 pages so settle in for a long read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Imagine that your family sends you (alone) to the U.S. because of financial hardship in Ireland and you will need to support your relatives back home. Imagine that you are able to take on someone else’s identity to become the servant of Andrew Carnegie’s mother. Will you be found out? Will your position be secure? These are among the premises of this richly detailed historical novel. Relationships between upstairs and downstairs, specifically between Clara and Andrew Carnegie are a major part of this novel. Read it too to learn more about the business world and women’s roles in the post Civil War U.S. Overall, an enjoyable read.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 