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

#FromCradletoGrave #NetGalley

About the Book

Lady Georgiana “Georgie” Rannoch is just like any other new mother, balancing responsibilities of being 34th in line for the British throne and solving the shocking deaths of several young men, in this new Royal Spyness novel from the queen of historical mystery, Rhys Bowen.

Georgie may be figuring out what it means to be a new mother but she does know one thing for sure: she absolutely despises the strict nanny who was foisted upon her by her meddlesome sister-in-law. In search of a new nanny, Georgie travels to London to see her old friend ZouZou  only to find her about to depart for a funeral, after the unexpected death of a young man in her social circle. It quickly becomes clear there’s more than one mysterious death around town, when another friend reveals he’s also just returned from the funeral of a school friend, who seemingly died in a boating accident. But when word arrives that the son of family friend has also died tragically and unexpectedly, Georgie is certain it can’t be a coincidence. Yet the victims don’t seem to have any connection to one another.

     ZouZou shares Georgie’s suspicions that the deaths were not an accident and begs Georgie to solve the case. As Georgie delves deeper, she can’t help worrying that her own husband, Darcy, may be next. It seems likely there is a serial killer at work and Darcy fits the bill to be their next victim. Will Georgie solve the murders before it’s too late for Darcy, and manage to find the perfect nanny all at the same time?

About the Author

Rhys Bowen, a New York Times bestselling author, has been nominated for every major award in mystery writing, including the Edgar®, and has won many, including both the Agatha and Anthony awards. She is also the author of the Molly Murphy Mysteries, set in turn-of-the-century New York, and the Constable Evans Mysteries, set in Wales, as well as two international bestselling stand-alone novels. She was born in England and now divides her time between Northern California and Arizona.

How it starts:

From the publisher

Chapter 1

Saturday, February 20, 1937

Eynsleigh Manor, Sussex, England

Dear Diary: It’s been a strange start to this year, watching my cousin David, the former king, sneak away from England to join Mrs. Simpson in France, having renounced his throne for her. I do hope he realizes what he’s given up. I really hope he is happy. I don’t think she will be. This isn’t what she wanted at all. She had set her sights on being queen. How silly. Anyway we have a new king and queen on the throne and I think they’ll do jolly well. They are a really decent couple, and their daughters are dear little girls. I’m really fond of them.

I’ve been lax with keeping up with this diary this year as not too much has happened in my life that is worth writing about. I’ve been at home taking care of my baby son, watching him grow and enjoying his every new move. Darcy has been going up to London to work or seeing to the running of the farm. Sir Hubert is away again. Granddad is back in Essex. All is quiet and peaceful.

10:30 a.m. I should never have written this!

This story began when I looked out of the blue bedroom window at the front of the house on a brisk morning to see an ancient taxicab coming up the driveway. As I watched, it disgorged a tall elderly woman. She looked around with an expression so haughty and disapproving that I concluded she had to be at least a Russian grand duchess, maybe sent to us by my friend Zou Zou, who was more formally known as the Princess Zamanska. I hastily patted my hair into place and smoothed down my skirt, and hurried down the stairs to greet her myself.

I opened the front door just as she was about to knock.

“Hello,” I said.

The expression became even more disapproving. “Are all the servants in this house allowed to be so familiar with arriving guests and to be dressed in such an inappropriate manner?” she asked in a voice that could cut glass. “I wish to speak to Lady Georgiana. Please go and inform her that I have arrived.”

I noticed that she was wearing a gray cape over a gray skirt with a gray pillbox hat on her head, matching her gray hair and gray face. Only the eyes were a darker shade of steel. Golly, I thought. Was I supposed to know she was coming? Had Darcy or one of the servants forgotten to pass along a message that a person of considerable importance was about to land on my doorstep?

“I am Lady Georgiana,” I said. “Please do come in.”

At this she raised an eyebrow. “Your sister-in-law, her grace, the duchess, told me that this was a lax household, but I had no idea that the lady of the house had to open her own front door.”

“I just happened to see the cab draw up from the upstairs window, so I came down to greet you,” I said. “So you know Fig, do you?”

“Her grace, Hilda, Duchess of Rannoch? Yes. I am familiar with her. A wonderful woman. Salt of the earth.”

Anyone who could describe Fig as a wonderful woman was immediately suspect in my view. “And may one know your name?”

The eyebrow arched again. “You mean you were not expecting me? Your sister-in-law, her grace, the duchess, told me she was going to write to you announcing my arrival. Clearly the post office is not what it was, or maybe storms in Scotland have stranded the postal van again. I am your new nanny. Nanny Hardbottle.”

I think my jaw dropped open and somehow I was unable to close it.

She was frowning at me now.

“But there must be some mistake. I didn’t request, I mean, I had not hired . . .”

“Precisely,” she said. “Her grace told me that you had been without a proper nanny since the birth of the child and it was about time you had one. So she took it upon herself to save you the trouble, and as luck would have it, she learned that the last of the Aubrey-Fulton sons has just gone off to a military academy and that I would now be free.”

I still couldn’t make my mouth work to say anything.

My thoughts:

Kudos to Rhys Bowen for her ability to keep the series fresh and entertaining. It is hard to believe that this is the 19th book to feature Georgie and those around her.

This time what I enjoyed most was simply spending time with the characters. It was very entertaining to follow Georgie as she interacted with her sister-in-law Fig and with the (awful) nanny that Fig foisted upon her.

Watching Georgie as a mother was sweet. In a time when women were expected to leave their children in the hands of others, Georgie wanted closeness with her son.

Regular characters are all here from Queenie to ZouZou, to Georgie’s husband and others. Old readers will be delighted to see them again and new readers will quickly know who is who.

They mystery centers on the deaths of a number of young heirs who die too soon and often while doing their favorite activities. What is going on? Are the deaths connected? Will Georgie figure things out? (Readers know the answer but will still enjoy watching what happens).

This book (and series) will appeal to those who enjoy lighthearted, historical, British mysteries. Long may Bowen keep writing about these characters.

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

Pub date: 18 November 2025

In her novels, Fiona Davis brings the world of New York City to her readers. I have spent time at the Frick Mansion, the New York Public Library, the Chelsea Hotel and other locations with her as a guide. Each time Ms. David brings the landmark to life, sharing some of its history and mystique. This is exactly what she does in The Spectacular, where readers go to Radio City Music Hall and spend time with the famous Rockettes. As usual, Ms. Davis tells an involving story with not just the intriguing setting, but also good characters and an involving plot.

Readers get to know the members of the Brooks family. The father is a widower with a prosperous business and strong opinions. Judy is the less beautiful daughter, the one who works at her father’s company and seems to mostly do exactly what is expected. For her part, Marion is expected to be and do the same; she is supposed to marry the right sort of young man and he has just proposed to her early in the novel. However, Marion is more like her deceased mother who was artistic. Marion loves to dance and decides to take a chance, auditioning for the Rockettes. This decision to become a Rockette affects Marion’s family relationships. She wants their support but is not sure that she can count on them.

Marion also meets many new people, including Bunny (another dancer) and Peter, a psychiatrist, among others in her new life. Readers not only learn about these people, they also get to witness the grueling rehearsal schedule and indeed spectacular formations of the Rockettes.

At the same time there is a bomber in the city. How will that play at Radio City? What will be the impact on Marion and what role will take on in events?

The novel opens with Marion when she is older. It then goes back and takes readers on her journey. They will watch Marion as she faces real threats and emotional ones, all the while deciding what kind of life she wants for herself.

Here is yet another very good read by the author. Recommended for historical fiction and women’s fiction readers. It is a delight.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this title. All opinions are my own.

FOUR STARS ****

Editorial Reviews

Review

“An engaging story…the novel is rich with historical details, and it comes most vividly to life in the passages about the Rockettes, with all the sweat, agony, and camaraderie that go into those miraculously perfect performances.” —Kirkus

“Davis masterfully draws Marion into the story, setting the scene for a cinematic conclusion. Readers will be attracted to the intriguing history and moved by Davis’ entrancing narrator.”
—Booklist

A Novel

by Mary Dixie Carter

Named a best fiction title of 2025 by Kirkus Reviews

#MargueriteByTheLake #NetGalley

Wow! This book really kept me engrossed. I would say to myself that I had other things to do but still kept reading this perfect summer thriller. Take this one on vacation or read it at home, either way it is enjoyable.

Anyone who has read Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca will recognize Carter’s debt to that title. Similar elements include a grand house and its grounds, a complex marriage, a death, servants/employees with loyalties and more. However, this book can stand on its own and diverges from the original in some significant ways.

Phoenix is a talented gardener/landscape designer at the story opens. Two of her most prominent clients are Marguerite (of the eponymous painting) and her husband Geoffrey. They seem to have everything but did they? Read the book to find out.

What befalls Marguerite early in the novel? What was Phoenix’s role in Marguerite’s fate? What will happen as Phoenix increasingly insinuates herself into life at Rosecliff, Marguerite and Geoffrey’s estate? What kind of man is Geoffrey? How will his and Marguerite’s daughter Taylor figure in the story? What about Marguerite’s employees? As a reader, how will you feel about these characters? How will the suspenseful plot unravel? There are lots of questions. Again, read this one to find out. I highly recommend it.

Kirkus review states: “Not to be missed, and definitely not to be imitated.” Need I say more?

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

Pub date: 20 May 2025

304 pages

Mystery & Thriller

From the Publisher

My thoughts:

I smile when I see one of these samplers posted on NetGalley. I always enjoy having an early look at some new mysteries.

For each title, find out what the book is about, read a sample and learn a little about the author. Then decide if you would like to read the full novel.

I always find that I am adding to my reading list after looking at this free resource. This time, I am interested in most of the titles.

Take a look. What might you like to read?

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

Pub date: 15 November 2025

About this title:

from the publisher

Looking for a new book that will make your heart race? The nineteenth edition of The Minotaur Sampler compiles the beginnings of 6 can’t-miss novels publishing April 2026 for free and easy sampling.

Stakeouts and Strollers by Rob Phillips is a hilarious mystery following an amateur private investigator and new father as he gets more than he bargained for when agreeing to track down a young girl’s missing father.

In Spencer Quinn’s Cat on a Hot Tin Woof, Chet, a dog investigator, and his human partner scramble to solve the case of a missing kitty that exposes the dark side of internet fame.

Rebecca Sharpe’s Harmless Women is a pacy thriller that follows a female con artist who chooses the wrong woman as her target, resulting in both women ending up on the run for their lives.

Liar’s Creek by Matt Goldman is a sweeping thriller where three generations of a strained family embark on a search for their missing relative in a picturesque small town that hides grave danger just below the surface of its beauty.

Jenny Elder Moke’s Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies is an engaging mystery rom-com where a no-nonsense woman in the publishing world must catch a killer in order to land the deal of a century, all while avoiding arrest and love.

Dark Is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce follows a woman’s search for her sister who goes missing shortly after a long-awaited return to her hometown in the English countryside, where the woods may be even darker than they seem.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/books/historical-fiction-books.html

#TheLondonBookshopAffair #NetGalley

This dual timeline historical fiction title is a winner! The story was quite absorbing and kept me turning the pages with its two main focuses-one is about Jeanne/Anya a WWII SOE volunteer, and another is about a young woman named Celia who works in a bookshop as the novel opens.

What is going on in the bookstore under its new ownership? How will events from WWII and 1960s crises like the division of Berlin and Cuba come into the story? How will the characters and events in the two time lines be connected? Readers will want to know.

In these pages, there are traitors, people who care deeply for their country, professionals and amateurs, all of whom are impacted by world events. Along with these big world worthy plots, there are also storylines that impact the characters smaller, personal worlds. There are about family ties, secrets, trust, being in love, friendship, creating a life one wants and more. 

The author does a marvelous job of bringing the two time periods to life. The social mores of each era are well portrayed and these societal rules definitely impact the characters.

The complex plot that kept me engaged and always eager to read another chapter. I was always wishing for the very best for Celia.

Historical fiction lovers, this is surely worth a read. The 1960s is a time period that I have seen less in historical fiction but one that is full of the conflict that makes for a good read.

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

Pub date: 16 January 2024

From the Publisher

My thoughts:

Like many, I adored DuMaurier’s Rebecca and have read it more than once. After reading Rebecca for the first time, I read other DuMaurier titles including My Cousin Rachel, Frenchman’s Creek and Jamaica Inn. I’ve also seen some of the movies and streaming adaptations of this author’s titles.

All that said, I had never read any of DuMaurier’s short stories. This collection is a great place to start or expand one’s knowledge of this author’s eerie talent. I was quite struck by The Blue Lenses. Anyone who has had eye surgery will surely have something to think about here.

Some of these stories are really quite creepy. If that appeals, this book is for you! I know that many will enjoy it. I was quite struck by the blue lenses. Anyone who has had eye surgery will surely have something to think about here.

Note that there is an introduction by Stephen King. It is well worth reading.

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

This book was published in September 2025

What it’s about:

from the publisher

From Daphne du Maurier, “a writer of fearless originality” (The Guardian), comes a collection of her thirteen most mesmerizing tales—including iconic stories such as “The Birds” and “Don’t Look Now”—with an introduction by Stephen King.

Daphne du Maurier is best known for Rebecca, “one of the most influential novels of the 20th century” (Sarah Waters) and basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film adaptation. More than thirty-five years after her death, du Maurier is celebrated for her gothic genius and stunning psychological insight by authors such as Ottessa Moshfegh, Maggie O’Farrell, Lucy Foley, Gillian Flynn, Jennifer Egan, and countless others, including Stephen King and Joe Hill.

After Midnight brings together some of du Maurier’s darkest, most haunting stories, ranging from sophisticated literary thriller to twisted love story. Alongside classics such as “The Birds” and “Don’t Look Now,”—both of which inspired unforgettable films—are gems such as “Monte Verità,” a masterpiece about obsession, mysticism, and tragic love, and “The Alibi,” a chilling tale of an ordinary man’s descent into lies, manipulation, and sinister fantasies that edge dangerously close to reality. In “The Blue Lenses,” a woman recovering from eye surgery finds she now perceives those around her as having animal heads corresponding to their true natures. “Not After Midnight” follows a schoolteacher on holiday in Crete who finds a foreboding message from the chalet’s previous occupant who drowned while swimming at night. In “The Breakthrough,” a scientist conducts experiments to harness the power of death, blurring the line between genius and madness.

Each story in this collection exemplifies du Maurier’s exquisite writing and singular insight into human frailty, jealousy, and the macabre. She “makes worlds in which people and even houses are mysterious and mutable; haunted rooms in which disembodied spirits dance at absolute liberty” (Olivia Laing, author of Crudo). Daphne du Maurier is mistress of the sleight of hand and slow-burning menace, often imitated and rarely surpassed.

Stories include:
-“The Blue Lenses”
-“Don’t Look Now”
-“The Alibi”
-“The Apple Tree”
-“The Birds”
-“Monte Verita”
-“The Pool”
-“The Doll”
-“Ganymede”
-“Leading Lady”
-“Not After Midnight”
-“Split Second”
-“The Breakthrough”

From the publisher:

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for After Midnight

“Taken together, the 13 tales in After Midnight offer every shade of eerie. Du Maurier’s best stories here also affirm that art remains one of the few reliable forms of immortality.” —Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air

“Du Maurier is an expert invoker of atmosphere and environment… spellbinding… These stories are the work of a protean, restless, and rather dangerous spirit with a decidedly pagan bent and a craving for solitude. The stories in After Midnight are wild at heart, like the woman who made them.” —Laura Miller, Slate

“A delicious title. An iconic writer. A compendium of her finest gothic tales. After Midnight brings together some of du Maurier’s most celebrated shorter works of psychological terror.” —LitHub

“Du Maurier’s stories have aged extraordinarily well and can still fill modern readers with dreadful unease.” —Library Journal, starred review

The reimagined series from Audible features a voice cast of more than 200 actors, a 60-piece orchestra and an immersive soundscape.
— Read on www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/arts/harry-potter-audiobooks-audible.html

#IKnowCurious #NetGalley

My thoughts:

This book is one that an adult and child can (and should) share. It could lead to helpful discussion. In this short title, the author invites children to be curious about their emotions and to learn how to identify them.

She encourages children to name emotions and to think of when they may have felt them. She also suggests keeping a “detective” notebook in which to keep track.

Recognizing, as the child does here, what boredom looks like, they become more able to think of how to respond. Several different emotions are depicted in these pages including curious, excited, confused and more. I like that the author observes that emotions change over the course of the day.

Learning to recognize and regulate emotions is a helpful skill that will last a lifetime. Through this cheerfully illustrated title, children will be encouraged to do this.

The book also comes with a helpful note to the adult in a child’s life.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Free Spirit Publishing for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 09 December 2025

About the book:

From the publisher

Teach children to recognize curiosity, boredom, and confusion

In I Know Curious, a young feelings detective looks for clues to identify curiosity, boredom, and confusion in himself and others. The boy feels bored sitting in a theater and waiting for a movie to start. He feels confused when the show starts because it isn’t a movie like he expected—it’s a magic show! He feels curious watching the magician perform amazing tricks. By noticing the clues in his own body—bouncy legs, a fast heartbeat, raised eyebrows—the feelings detective can also recognize when his family members feel the same way.

Sometimes feelings can overwhelm us. I Know Curious helps readers develop skills they can use in these moments to feel better. To cope with boredom, the characters play games and even put on their own magic show. I Know Curious:

• Teaches children to recognize curiosity, boredom, and confusion from clues in their bodies
• Introduces the concept of a feelings detective notebook to help build emotional awareness, intelligence, and skills
• Gives child-friendly ideas for coping with overwhelming emotions
• Offers strategies for caregivers on helping children identify and manage big feelings

The six books in the We Find Feelings Clues series help children learn how to use their bodies’ clues and their past experiences to identify and name their feelings and those of others. Clues are found in facial expressions and body language, sensations within the body, and knowledge of past experiences. After identifying an emotion, children also learn how they can feel better when their emotions are overwhelming. Each book follows a child using a feelings detective notebook to record feelings through drawings and words, as well as information on recognizing and dealing with the book’s featured feelings. The books can stand alone or be used together as a classroom companion to Lindsay N. Giroux’s professional resource, Create an Emotion-Rich Classroom.

An e book bargain today

#HowtoSolveYourOwnMurder #NetGalley

It is hard to believe that this is Kristen Perrin’s first novel. She writes with an assured hand and keeps readers turning the pages in her take on a traditional mystery.

The story-Frances Adams was a teen growing up in the sixties when she went to see a fortune teller. She was given a very detailed and particular warning of things to watch out for. Much of her subsequent life was spent trying to evade her own death by nefarious means. On this night, Frances was with her friends Emily and Rose. They have roles to play in the story.

Frances had a niece and grandniece who are living an eccentric London life as the story opens. When Annie is summoned to meet with Frances’s lawyer in the small town where Frances has an estate, off she goes. There she meets Walt, the attorney and his relative, Oliver. She also encounters the annoying Elva and her family.

Not a spoiler because this happens early in the story, Frances is found dead. Who will inherit her money? Who killed her? Find out in this very enjoyable novel.

It is easy to recommend this title. Hopefully, Ms. Perrin will keep writing twisty, fun mysteries.

Many thanks to Penguin Group-Dutton for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 26 March 2024

From the Publisher

“The pace is quick, the red herrings are plentiful, and Annie’s growth from timid wannabe writer to confident sleuth is beautifully rendered. Combining elements of Agatha Christie, Anthony Horowitz, and Midsomer Murders, this is a richly entertaining whodunit from a promising new talent.”—Publishers Weekly

“Perrin juggles characters and clues with aplomb, sketching in the past via teen Frances’ journals and immersing readers in the present through Annie’s determined, good-hearted point of view. Readers will root for her as she gains hard-won confidence in this entertaining exploration of family secrets.”—BookPage