I very much enjoyed Jennifer Saint’s earlier foray into ancient myth and history. Her first novel, Ariadne, was an absorbing read that captured a time and place and did so from the women’s point of view. I also highly recommended this new book to those who like historical fiction and are fascinated by ancient Greece.
Some of the characters in this novel may be known to readers while others may not; they are numerous and may be a bit challenging for some readers to keep track of. It is worth the effort to sort them out!
The historical period is partly around the Trojan War. Complex loyalties and revenge dictate much of the action leading to war and other decisions made by the men in this book.
Some of the couples whom readers get to know are Penelope/Odysseus; Clytemnestra/Agamemnon; and Helen/Menelaus/Paris. There are also many others who are important to the narrative including Elektra, Iphigenia, Achilles and Cassandra. Each is entangled within their family, marriages, infidelities, history and gods. It makes for a satisfying narrative.
Inside this story are wars, complex relationships, revenge, honor, daily life and more. Reading this novel, of course, I saw how over the top the Greek Gods could be. Life from the female point of view is very well portrayed.
I found this title to be an immersive read. I recommend it highly.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this title. All opinions are my own.
Debbie Macomber has been writing women’s fiction for many years. She has a keen sense for what her fans want; this includes a family story, a romance, something heartwarming and nothing that is rated above PG…and she delivers.
In this story two single moms, Jenna and Maureen, have children who are growing up, leaving home and facing some adult issues…college, leaving college, having a baby. The empty nest looms for both, especially Jenna who struggles as her daughter leaves home.
Jenna, a nurse, and Maureen, a librarian become involved in romances with Rowan, a surgeon and Logan, a plumber/construction worker. Each couple has their ups and downs but the ending of the novel is never in doubt.
If you are looking for a comfort read, nothing too taxing but a gentle escape, Debbie Macomber could be just the author you need.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviews
“This heartwarming story sweetly balances friendship and mother-child bonding with romantic love.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Macomber’s work is as comforting as ever.”—Booklist
I first read about this book when it was published in England and knew that I would want to read it. My favorite genre-mystery- plus an Oxford setting and a lot about words. (I loved The Bookbinder which was historical fiction set in Oxford with much about words). So, getting this book from NetGalley was a real treat. It did not disappoint.
Readers meet Martha who works for the Clarendon English Dictionary which feels like a fictional stand in for the OED. She and her colleagues including Simon, Alex and Safi get to deal with words as their profession. They are just four of the many characters in this story.
As the book opens, there is a staff meeting and all seems pretty much as usual until an odd letter arrives. It takes a bit but Martha comes to realize that this letter may be referencing the disappearance of her talented, bright and beautiful sister thirteen years ago. No one knows what became of Charlie? Who is “chorus,” the anonymous letter writer? What other messages will be received? What did happen to Charlie?
From this point in, I was so drawn in and spent as much time as I could reading the story. There were also some fun treats along the way with various vocabulary words. For example, I loved conjobble which was defined as eat, drink and talk!
Still, while the English vocabulary references were great fun, it was the story that kept me intrigued. Publishers Weekly described this book as a “treat.” I definitely agree.
I am delighted to know that this is the first in a series. I can’t wait for more.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 30 September 2025
384 pages
Mystery & Suspense
Editorial Reviews
Review
“There are pleasures here for anyone who revels in the joy of text.” ― Kirkus Reviews
“Etymologist Dent makes an impressive fiction debut with a clever whodunit that pivots on her linguistic expertise…a tantalizing puzzle for Anglophiles and Golden Age mystery lovers alike.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Linguist Dent proves she is a talented wordsmith in her own right, diverting readers with historical and lexicological tidbits throughout the story…Martha and her team are whip-smart and fun, providing a light juxtaposition to the suspense elements, while the lush and vibrant descriptions of Oxford create a lovely sense of place; readers will be both informed and entertained.” ― Library Journal
“If you’re like me and love both language and crime, then Guilty by Definition has it all. Susie Dent’s impressive debut novel is virtuosic. So meticulously and fascinatingly steeped in the archaic glory of words, it will surely be the ultimate treat for every logophile out there. But this is so much more than a celebration of the dictionary – it’s a tantalizing mystery of a missing sister, a cold case that will not lie down, and a family frozen in their unresolved grief… all while their circle of friends and colleagues nurse secrets and lies beyond explication. Guilty by Definition is positively aglitter with etymological and detecting treasures for word-sleuths and crime-fans alike.” ― Janice Hallett, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Appeal
Next in the series:
Publisher’s Synopsis-From the British publisher
A brand-new linguistic mystery from Countdown‘s resident lexicographer, Susie Dent, set in the city of Oxford
**AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**
When mysterious symbols appear as graffiti around Oxford, lexicographer Martha Thornhill recognises them from a runic alphabet created by a deceased fantasy writer whose papers she once worked on. But this is no publicity stunt, and tensions intensify when further graffiti is found near the body of a university lecturer.
Martha is not the only one to have doubts when the suspicious death is ruled by police as suicide. Called upon to lend their linguistic expertise to the case, Martha and her colleagues begin to unearth a tragedy that extends beyond the ancient walls of the university. As new messages portend more death, it’s clear that a spirit of vengeance is stalking the city’s streets, and may be reaching out towards them too.
Regular readers of Jodi Picoult’s novels know what to expect…the unexpected, plot twists, a social issue and lots of information on an interesting topic, in this case bees.
Here is a story in which Ms. Picoult partnered with Ms. Boylan, a fortuitous and successful pairing for this novel’s topic and one about which readers will learn a great deal. As I mentioned in a review of a spark of light, I think that a service is done for readers who are hungry for information and may not have easy access to it; in this instance, the subject is being trans.
Well, yes, as noted above, there is always a bit of a didactic turn in this writer’s works but there is also always a terrific story. Here readers get to know Asher and his bee keeping mom, and Lily, a person of great importance to Ash. Around them flow many other characters.
When something really bad happens, Asher is in trouble. Did he do what he was accused of? How will events play out? What will the impact be on the small New Hampshire town where the novel is set?
Around the central plot, are backstories for many characters. There is a good deal about families and parents who are absent, along with the impact of that on children. Is it ever better not to be with a parent is one of many questions.
As this book opens readers meet two moms who are single parents for complex reasons. What happens when this new(ish) ecosystem is messed with? Will it be like it is for the bees when they face disruption?
I, for one, really wanted to know what would happen in this story, not only to Asher, but to many of the people around him. I think readers will feel that way too.
Congrats to the authors. They have written one heck of a book.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
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.
Not so long ago, I was transported to Paris and the world of Shakespeare & Co. in Ms. Maher’s last novel. This time, readers are placed firmly in the Chicago area in the early 1970s.
It is a time of upheaval and change, even as some cling to a more 1950s lifestyle. Readers are introduced to several main characters who live in the time period.
Veronica is a bit of a free spirit and a person who is involved in the social movements of the time. Most significantly, she becomes a part of the Jane network, providing safe, but illegal, abortion services.
Patty, a friend of Veronica’s growing up years, is more conservative. She is a traditional wife and mother who is concerned about her doctor husband’s recent lack of interest in her.
Siobhan is a newer friend of Veronica’s. The story opens as Veronica accompanies Siobhan to her illegal abortion. Siobhan is an artist who is separated/divorced from her professor husband Gabe. She is active in the Janes.
Margaret is a new Assistant Professor at the University of Chicago. She is finding her way and becomes friends with Phyllis. She also becomes involved with Gabe.
This is a rich historical novel that will remind readers of what life was like in the days before Roe v Wade, a time that we have now reentered. The author tells her story well and readers will become immersed in the lives of these fictional characters and the decisions that they make.
I highly recommend this one. It is being published at just the right time.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.
Unlike many others, I have not (as yet) read The Life of Pi so that is not why I wanted to read this novel by Yann Martel. I was deeply interested in it because I had just read the Iliad in a class (and an excellent one at that!). I learned so much and felt much more than I had ever anticipated while reading that work. The time was right for Son of Nobody as the Iliad was fresh in my mind.
This book will, I think, have both its fans and detractors. It requires a bit on the reader’s part and is certainly not a page turner. However, I was fascinated by how the author had thought about the Iliad and written something that relied on that, while being original.
This is a story told in two narratives. One is about Psoas. He is a fictional every man who experienced the Trojan War. He did not come from an illustrious line and yet was thrust into this very long conflict.
The other story is about the scholar who explores Psoas’s story. His last name is Donne (for the poet?). He is on a quest and this has led him to be a less than perfect husband and father.
This is a work of literary fiction. It can be read by those who have no experience of the Iliad but will be enjoyed most by those who have a reference point. It this book appeals, I suggest reading a summary of the Iliad, if needed, first.
I am glad to have read this one. Many thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Pub date: 31 March 2026
Description:
From the publisher
From the author of the international bestseller Life of Pi, a brilliant retelling of the Trojan War from the perspective of two commoners: an ancient soldier and a modern scholar.
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey were not the only ancient tales of the Trojan War. In Son of Nobody, Yann Martel composes a new legend: the Psoad, an epic in free verse that follows a goatherd’s son, Psoas of Midea, who leaves his wife and family to fight at Troy. Psoas meets his doom and the poem of his life is lost—until a Canadian academic studying at Oxford, Harlow Donne, discovers its relics thirty centuries later. As Harlow assembles and comments on the fragments in footnotes, he retrieves memories of his wife and daughter and grapples with questions of ambition, family, and responsibility in both the ancient and modern worlds. Son of Nobody upends the regal perspective of traditional epics and shows that “the past is never done with, that always there are parallels and returns and repetitions, always the song continues.” Readers of Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles and Emily Wilson’s The Iliad will revel in this breathtaking feat of the imagination.
About the Author:
Yann Martel is the author of Life of Pi, the international bestseller that won the 2002 Booker Prize and was adapted to the screen in the Oscar–winning film by Ang Lee. He lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Praise for Son of Nobody: A Novel
A brilliant novel of ideas. . . . A powerful meditation on life, death, and the vanity of human wishes, all illustrated by a poem that would do Homer proud. A stunningly imagined revisitation of an ancient past. — Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Original, thought-provoking, and utterly absorbing… [An] inventive novel about a classics scholar who makes a thrilling discovery. — Kristine Huntley, Booklist, starred review
Inspired… An appealing labor of love. — Publishers Weekly
From Publishers Weekly:
Yann Martel
Author
“I was inspired by Homer’s Iliad. The Trojan War still speaks to us today because it was a siege, and waiting, prolonged waiting, is very trying. Waiting is an incubator of wild ideas and unwarranted rage, hence the violence that can arise when it finally ends. Waiting fascinates the ancient and modern minds because to learn how to live is to learn how to wait, how to deal with the sand as it falls through the hourglass. We all live before the walls of Troy.”
Kawaii Cats can be cheerful and whimsical as can be seen in this coloring book. For instance, I loved the cats as sushi, the cats in teacups, the yin/yang cats, the laundry basket cat and so many more.
This book will, I think, be a big hit with its intended audience. If that is you, get your colored pencils, markers or crayons out and start to create!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Pub date: 05 May 2026
Description
Calling all cat lovers! From playful kittens to cozy furballs, Kawaii Cats is packed with charm, creativity, and a whole lot of purr-sonality. Because your cat thinks you deserve a relaxing coloring break (maybe).
Perfect for doting cat parents and coloring enthusiasts alike, this book lets you unwind and express your creativity while filling your world with playful charm and irresistible cuteness. Discover a delightful variety of hand-drawn illustrations inspired by the sweet and quirky kawaii art style. From cats playing with yarn to snack-loving kitties and fanciful feline scenes, every page is designed to bring a smile to the faces of those who work hard to please their feline overlords. Whether you’re in the mood for quick coloring sessions or detailed masterpieces, you’ll find designs to suit your style, with an array of both simple and intricate patterns.
Inside you’ll find:
Adorable Designs for All Skill Levels: Perfect for beginners and experienced colorists, with artwork ranging from easy-to-color shapes to detailed compositions.
Stress Relief & Creativity: Lose yourself in the relaxing world of coloring as you melt away the day’s stress.
High-Quality Paper: Printed on high-quality paper to prevent bleed-through, making this book suitable for markers, pencils, or crayons—even if your cat decides to “help” mid-coloring.
Frame-Worthy Creations: Each page is single-sided, so you can easily remove and display your favorite finished pieces.
Relax, unwind, and forget your worries (until your cat demands attention). De-stress one paw print at a time with Kawaii Cats.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 