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

A Novel of Victorian Cookery and Friendship

by Annabel Abbs

Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen is an historical novel based on the life of Eliza Acton. Eliza was a poet whose family fell on very hard times. When a publisher, who did not want to publish her poems, offered to pay her to write a cookbook, she at first refused. Luckily for cooks and readers, Eliza changed her mind. She goes on to find poetry in her cooking and cookery writing.

The second important character in the story is Ann. Ann’s incredibly difficult life is portrayed vividly and readers will feel for her bleak home life. It is transformative for Ann to begin to work for “Miss Eliza.”

Life for Eliza and her mother involves taking in short term boarders. Readers will meet one particularly lascivious and loathsome one. He is an early guest at the house. His presence also impacts Ann.

Throughout the story, Eliza and Ann work together to create recipes that are different from those that came before. For example, they used accurate measurements.

Eliza and Ann become very close. What will the nature of their relationship be as it evolves?

I found this book to be somewhat slow moving and yet it was interesting. It described a time, place, way of life and the people who lived it.

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

Note that there is an article in the December U.S. issue of Good Housekeeping that references this title. The book was also chosen for a morning tv show’s book club.

From the Publisher

A Novel

by Georgia Toffolo

Unknown to me, Georgia Toffolo is a celebrity in England from what I saw. Interesting that she has time to pen novels but indeed she did.

Have you ever known someone whose parent constantly wanted to know about the state of their romantic life? How would you feel as an adult male to receive continuous messages (signed “from your mother,” as if he didn’t know!) on this very topic?

Next, imagine you are a young woman who loves fashion and wants to make a difference. Could you envision the man noted above who, by the way, has a department store that sells clothing, possibly helping you?

What will happen when these two come together? Read this light, easy novel to find out. It is a good one for when a person needs a little escape.

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

From the Publisher

Some of the books listed above are new releases and discounted, yet they cost more than a couple of dollars. The Yeats is free.

A Greer Hogan Mystery

by M. E. Hilliard

This book grabbed my interest immediately because, on the first page, a favorite childhood fictional character of mine was mentioned. You may not know her, but she was Trixie Belden. She, her brothers, Honey and Jim had adventures and solved mysteries with their club. They had exactly the life that I wanted .I loved Trixie more than Nancy Drew. As this was exactly how the fictional detective in this book felt, I knew that I wanted to read more.

The amateur sleuth in this title is Greer. Her husband had been murdered (not a spoiler as this is mentioned early in the novel) and she has sought a new life away from New York City. Greer goes to library school and moves to a small town in upstate New York. A library patron and friend to Greer is murdered. What is behind the murder? Who did it? How will intrepid, amateur sleuth Greer fare? Will the solution tell her more about her husband? Find out in this cozy mystery.

In addition to Trixie, I loved the library setting and the mention of various books and authors. Readers will wish for a library like this, despite the crimes.

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

Watch for this author’s next book coming in April 2022

What does a person “Need to Know?” What truths do we need to live by and how can/should a person compromise? Karen Cleveland’s first novel reads like the book of an experienced author. It not only reflects her background in working for the government but also a keen awareness of what it means to be married, have children, think there is security and find out that is an illusion. I agree with all those big name authors who said that once you start this book, you will look forward to finishing it!

Note that the author has a new book coming in July 2022

nyti.ms/3xMSsGu

by Jonathan Galassi, ed.

A Novel

by Jenny Colgan

Jenny Colgan can be counted on to write an engaging Christmas novel every year and this year is no exception. The Christmas Bookshop is set in Scotland. Colgan portrays Edinburgh and brings it to life. I had never known that Edinburgh was so hilly! Mr. McC’s bookshop also is described in a way that makes it feel so real in all its initial scruffiness and then as it slowly transforms.

Protagonist Carmen chose not to attend university but rather continued to work at her local department store…until it closed and Carmen found herself unemployed. Meanwhile her sister Sofia seems to have it all. She has the job, the house, the husband and is pregnant with her fourth child.

Carmen travels to Edinburgh to stay with Sofia. Sofia finds her the position in the bookshop and from here the story moves forward. There are several characters whom readers feel will vie for Carmen’s affection. One is a disaffected self-help book author while another is a bookshop customer.

Readers can enjoy this story knowing that all will end well. Watch the bookstore begin to thrive (I love bookstores in books) and wait for Carmen to find happiness.

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

Winston Churchill was/is a figure known to many for his outsize life and accomplishments. I have previously read several books about him as well as both fiction and non-fiction titles about Clementine.

This book, however, explores a different aspect of the Churchill family, the lives of their daughters and the Chuchills as parents. I was aware that tragically one of the Churchills’ daughters died too young and that there was a brother. I had also read a bit about Mary. I did not know the other sisters though and now feel that I do.

This title tells an interesting story about these daughters, their lives, their times and those around them. By the way, those around them included their cousins, the Mitford girls. Each of the Churchill siblings is brought to life here and, as is generally true of siblings, each had a unique personality.

Those interested in social history, biography and/or the Churchills will welcome this title. I do recommend it.

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

And lots of Agatha Christies

There are also these homages to Poirot by Sophie Hannah