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

The Sunday Times pick of the best new popular fiction

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/9a61c6a8-e8da-11ed-bf13-ef78badfc41f?shareToken=2faeac741a375a975befa621dcb0ac1b

The Sunday Times Bestsellers List — the UK’s definitive chart

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/f2c6f942-da35-11e9-8fc3-6e1b00e49ce4?shareToken=70a783ecb4f7729f7740caad59da9183

There are three sections in this title; Anxiety Machine, Growing Pains, and Onward to Good Things. In them, the author/cartoonist shares his view of the world and some of his struggles. Heart and Brain may sometimes be in conflict but they both are needed.

Those who like comics with a somewhat existential bent may want to give this book a look. It did not fully gel with my sense of humor but that certainly doesn’t mean that it might not be perfect for others. Many readers have given this title five stars.

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

From the Publisher

#ACertainDarkness #NetGalley

A Certain Darkness is the sixth title in the series that began with This Side of Murder. While the books can be read in any order, it is worthwhile (and entertaining) to start from the beginning. This way readers may best understand the relationship between protagonist Verity and her husband Sidney. It has been a complicated one.

This title takes place in the aftermath of WWI. Peace may have been declared but that does not mean that life is peaceful. Sidney is asked to interview a woman who wanted to talk only to him-why could their meeting not take place? Verity, for her part, is supposed to secure some documents. Readers can imagine that events around this will not move forward smoothly. Verity will have doubts about those for whom she works. How will what Sidney has been asked to do relate to Verity’s own work?

In these pages are murder, a series of confusing events and a deepening of the relationship between the main characters. Readers also travel some through post war Europe. This all makes for a good read.

I enjoy this series and look forward to each new entry. As noted above, I do think that perhaps the titles are best read in order so those who have not yet met Verity have a lot of good reading ahead. For those who start with this novel, some background is provided.

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

Pub date: August 2022

From the publisher:

I enjoyed this one and reviewed it

Good and reviewed by me.

I heard her speak and plan to read this soon.

The illustrations in this title are absolutely lovely. There seem to be some collages here with ppealing people and scenes. The author’s interpretation of “shape” is very broad and moves well beyond triangles or squares to amorphous shapes like wind or certain emotions.

I liked this book but feel that the concept may slightly confuse some as the shapes leave the literal to become emotions or ideas. Nonetheless this is a title that an adult and young child could enjoy together and that could prompt some good talk.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

#LessonsattheSchoolbytheSea #NetGalley

I am always delighted to spend time with a book by this author. She writes the kinds of stories that give readers an opportunity to exhale.

This title is part of a series of stories set at a school. This is the third novel. Readers may want to go back and spend time with the others if they have not already read them. However it is possible to read this as a standalone. A list of major characters is included at the beginning of the story.

Boarding school stories are staples for young readers. Colgan tries to give adults that same sense of enjoyment in this series.

Students Fliss, Alice and Simone are back following the summer break. There is a new student character introduced as well. Teacher Maggie also returns and has some complications to her love life.

In addition, there is a boys’ school close by. There is a teacher there who is also important to the plot.

Regular readers of this author’s books will want to give this one a look. New readers may enjoy it as well.

Read the author’s introduction to the novel to learn more about its composition. There is a recap here for those unfamiliar with the series.

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

Pub date: 07 March 2023

FREE

The first in the series

Catherine Bruns has written many cozy mysteries. With this title,she begins a new cozy series set in Vermont.

Leila’s father is well known for his excellent maple syrup. Leila always thought that he was well regarded and yet someone has murdered him. Why? With family members suspected and in crisis, Leila leaves Florida and returns to Vermont where she tries to figure out what happened. She is a likeable amateur sleuth and readers will enjoy following her as she figures things out.

This title will be enjoyed by those who like cozy mysteries. As is often the case with the subgenre, the setting and characters are good and the violence is muted.

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

This title was published in October 2022.

This one left me in tears

Start of an excellent series