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

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/books/review/new-mystery-novels.html

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/books/mystery-thriller-books-locked-room.html

The cover makes this book look like it could be a juvenile title; it is not. Rather this is the latest entry in Kerry Greenwood’s Corinna Chapman series. Readers may already know the author’s Miss Phrynne Fisher series of novels and the later Australian TV series. Those who like Miss Fisher may enjoy finding out what Ms. Greenwood has also written.

This book is peopled with eccentric characters. On occasion, I had a bit of difficulty recalling who was who. Readers will definitely remember Corinna and her Israeli boyfriend though. They are a couple who enjoy food and each other. He is an Israeli agent of some kind while Corinna is a baker whose goods sound quite delicious.

The plot centers on a Scottish/Australian soldier whose dog has gone missing, most likely kidnapped. This is not just any dog though; Geordie worked hard in Afghanistan and is the most important connection that our traumatized former soldier has.

Readers will see what happens as Daniel, our Israeli protagonist, and Corinna solve the case. Along the way, readers will enjoy Corinna’s acceptance of others, wit and friends.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Novel

by Kate Quinn is an e book bargain

#TheRoseCode #NetGalley

Pub date: March 9, 2021

To say the most important thing first…I LOVED this book and highly recommend it. Yes, there are many, many novels currently being published that are set in WWII. I have read and enjoyed many of them. Still, even if you feel WWII fiction fatigue, give this one a chance.

The Rose Code’s main setting is Bletchley Park. As most know, this was an important location for those who broke codes and helped to win the war. Into this setting come three women:

Osla: She was a debutante before the war took her to BP but she has always wanted to do more and to be seen as more than this. Osla had a haphazard upbringing by a neglected mother but she moves in society’s highest circles; her godfather is Mountbatten and she knows a certain Phillip very well.

Mabel, renamed (by herself) as Mab: She grew up in Shoreditch where expectations for her were low. Coming to BP allows her to do and become more.

Bethan/Beth: She has lived in the shadow of a domineering mother but BP allows her particular genius and talents to flourish. She has a laser like focus and a great talent for the work she does.

What happens to these three and the events and people around them form the core of this immersive read. There are romance, joy, friendship, traitors, hardship, mystery and more contained in the pages of the story. It will engage readers who will wish that the book were even longer than its hefty length.

I listened to the audio of this title. The narrator was fantastic. She created each of the characters with their own voice.

Whether you like to read or listen, put this one on your TBR list.

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

#TheLionsofFifthAvenue #NetGalley

Fiona Davis has written a number of historical fiction titles. Each book is set in an iconic NYC landmark and has a dual narrative structure and timeline. In this, the strongest of her novels yet, the reader spends time at the main New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue.
The story in the past begins around 1913. The iconic library has just opened. The superintendent, Jack; his wife, Laura; and their two children, Pearl and Harry actually live in an apartment inside the enormous new library. Jack, in addition to his job, is writing what he hopes will be the great American novel. Laura, up until now, a woman who married for love and cares for her family wants more. She enrolls as one of very few women at the Columbia School of Journalism. Jack and Laura’s desire for fulfillment leads to conflict, misunderstandings and tragedy. The fallout from their actions influences the story that takes place in the 1990s which is about their descendants.
In the present, Sadie works as a curator at the very same library on 42nd Street. Her love of all things bookish is apparent. Under Sadie’s watch, volumes are being stolen from the library. How do the past and present collide? Read the book to find out.
I learned a lot about collectable and antiquarian books as well as the library through reading this novel. I now know more about valuable books and how they are both vulnerable and protected. Clearly Ms. Davis has been meticulous in her research and loves her subject.
There are themes to this novel in addition to the mystery, romance and depictions of life at the Columbia School of Journalism, the Village and the library. What sacrifices are women asked to make and when are they too much? How much is owed to a family? Can we be forgiven for mistakes? How important is it to have a relationship and to take risks for it? Who should define what a person wants in life?
Ms. Davis does an excellent job of connecting the two narratives. The book is a page turner that will be eagerly embraced by her loyal readers and will also be enjoyed by those new to the author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review. I recommend it very highly.

I very much enjoyed the three other novels that I read and reviewed by Julia Kelly. They were The Whispers of War; The Light Over London; and The Last Garden in England. Each of these had war as a backdrop for good historical fiction.

Now, Julia Kelly has turned her pen to the post WWII period with this book that has nostalgia, drama, some interesting characters and lots of details. As can be seen from the title, this book is about debs, specifically a group of young women who were among the very last to be presented to royalty in 1958. Such presentations and the seasons that followed were the aspiration of many upper class families.

Here the author follows three different young women; Lily, Leana and Katherine. Each copes with their season in a different way; all of their lives intersect in a kaleidoscope of lunches, suppers, dances, balls, shopping trips, country weekends and more. Those who would like to vicariously sample the dresses, menus and venues will have much to enjoy here.

Each of these young women is looking to find their life’s direction. Follow them on their journey. You will witness friendship, love, conflict and some secrets!

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

#TheWidow #NetGalley

My thoughts:

Fans of John Grisham will, no doubt, be delighted to know that they can once again enter his world. Indeed, they will get to spend ample time there in this over 400 page book.

As always, the law is at the heart of the story. It is complicated however as, this time, it is the lawyer who is accused of murder. Who is he said to have killed and how does he come to be accused? Why? Who wants to see him found guilty of the crime? The pages will turn as readers wait to find out.

This novel is vintage Grisham. I suspect that readers will be riveted to its pages!

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

Pub date: 22 October 2025

From the Publisher:

Simon Latch is a lawyer in rural Virginia, making just enough to pay his bills while his marriage slowly falls apart. Then into his office walks Eleanor Barnett, an elderly widow in need of a new will. Apparently, her husband left her a small fortune, and no one knows about it.

Once he hooks the richest client of his career, Simon works quietly to keep her wealth under the radar. But soon her story begins to crack. When she is hospitalized after a car accident, Simon realizes that nothing is as it seems, and he finds himself on trial for a crime he swears he didn’t commit: murder.

Simon knows he’s innocent. But he also knows the circumstantial evidence is against him, and he could spend the rest of his life behind bars. To save himself, he must find the real killer….

“A captivating legal whodunit . . . [Grisham’s] nuanced portrait of Latch demonstrates his gift for constructing morally flawed yet sympathetic characters. The author’s fans will be galvanized by this impressive return to form.”—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

From Amazon

JOHN GRISHAM is the author of more than fifty consecutive #1 bestsellers, which have been translated into nearly fifty languages. His recent books include Framed, Camino Ghosts and The Exchange: After the Firm.

Grisham is a two-time winner of the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and was honored with the Library of Congress Creative Achievement Award for Fiction.

When he’s not writing, Grisham serves on the board of directors of the Innocence Project and of Centurion Ministries, two national organizations dedicated to exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted. Much of his fiction explores deep-seated problems in our criminal justice system.

John lives on a farm in central Virginia.–This text refers to the hardcover edition.

by Jack Chesher

An e book bargain

#LondonAGuideforCuriousWanderers #NetGalley

Thinking of traveling to England’s capital? Are you just an armchair traveler? Want to get a unique take on London? Whichever applies, this book is a good guide.

Readers are offered four walks through London. The first goes from Tower Hill Station to Liverpool Street Station. Next is Tottenham Court Road Station to Trafalgar Square. Third is London Bridge Station to Borough Station. Finally, there is a walk from Westminster Station to Berkeley Square.

Each walk has a theme. For example, the first one focuses on London’s buildings. They go from Roman ruins to skyscrapers.

In the introduction, the author states that he wants to show explorers lots of hidden corners. He also want to provide an “ability to read London.” Sounds good.

This book has lovely illustrations, a plethora of sites to see, informative and brief descriptions, and maps to help on the way. Each site’s address is also provided.

Recommended for someone who has the time and inclination to explore an amazing city.

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

Pub date: 09 May 2023

#TheEssentialGuidetoWomensSleep #NetGalley

My thoughts:

Getting a good night’s sleep seems to pose an inordinate challenge for many. Ironically, something that is so important can also be quite difficult to achieve.

The subtitle of this book gives a good indication of its purpose. It is to support better sleep for women so they will feel better and be able to do all of the things that they need to over the course of the day.

This title covers many aspects of sleep from the “what, how and why” of sleep, to the sleep challenges that are posed by different life stages, to strategies for good sleep habits and more. There is much to learn.

This book leaves the reader with much to think about and some strategies. It is well written and worth a look. I think that it will be welcomed by those who are looking for some help for their nights.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 21 October 2025

From the publisher:

Maintaining good sleep is a crucial yet often underrated pillar of a person’s wellbeing and general health. Despite this, there is limited guidance on how and why the various phases women experience in their lifetime may impact their quality of sleep, and what can be done to improve it.

This practical and accessible guide for health professionals introduces the concept of female sleep health across the lifetime, including key stages such as menstruation, fertility, working life, birth, perimenopause, and menopause. It also addresses sleep disorders, pain, and the impact poor sleep may have on mental health.

Readers will benefit from practical and detailed strategies on improving sleep, guidance on sleep aides and technology, and signposts to when clinical intervention is needed.

A Novel

by Kate Quinn-an e book bargain

#TheBriarClub #NetGalley

To my mind, Ms.Quinn is a bit of a chameleon. Her latest novel, The Briar Club, felt quite different from say The Rose Code (a favorite of mine). That is not to say that I didn’t enjoy The Briar Club because I very much did.

A few things about the structure of the book:

The house gets some chapters as events unfold.

The story is told almost as a series of short stories with a section given to each of the main characters.

There are recipes from each of the main characters included.

As regards the story itself, which unfolds during the McCarthy era, right from the beginning readers know that there has been a murder. There may be more to come (no spoilers). Who was killed and why? Of course, readers want to know. They will keep turning the pages to find out.

The character who moves in to the house right at the beginning of the story seems to be the glue between characters. It is Grace March who draws everyone together and it is she who organizes the regular weekly tenant dinners. The residents who attend are quite different from one another. One character works at the National Archives, another is a mother with a young child, someone is more involved with the McCarthy hearings, an older woman was once an artist and is now down on her heels. These are just some of the women and all of them have backstories.

I would read anything by Kate Quinn and this book does nothing to change that opinion. I recommend it highly recommend it as do Library Journal and Publishers Weekly which both gave this a starred review. Readers will remember the women and events at Briarwood House.

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

Pub date: 09 July 2024