IN HARDBACK:

The Night Hawks by Elly Griffiths

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsJune 16, 2021

#TheNightHawks #NetGalley

pub date: June 29, 2021

Elly Griffiths is currently writing three different mystery series. There are the stories (historical) set around Brighton and the Harbinder novels in addition to those about Ruth, Nelson, Michelle and those around them. While I would happily read anything that Ms. Griffiths writes, I admit to a special soft spot for the stories about Ruth. Last year’s book featuring her as been nominated for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. I hope she wins.

A lot going on in this title. There is a mysterious and scary dog who apparently lives in a pretty horrible house in the middle of nowhere. Unlike with Holmes, this dog does bark but it is unclear why he is frequently sighted and to whom he belongs. He does terrify people though.

The farm where this beast has been seen is the site of two deaths. Was there a murder/suicide or was this a crime committed by an outsider? The murdered doctor is a singularly unlikable character. He has intimidated his wife and children and has been doing some mysterious research with fatal results. Which unsavory aspect of his life led to his demise?

The Night Hawks of the title are a group of men who go hunting for metal objects. Their finds include bodies, both historical. Some of these men have connections with the doctor and his family. Does that make them suspects?

Ruth also has a new colleague with whom to contend. What is in his past? Will Ruth rue having hired him? Where will he fit in the events of the story?

Around all of this, are Ruth, Nelson Kate, Michelle and their relationships. Where will they be by the end of the book?

Readers who are fans should absolutely rush out to get this 13th title in the series. I recommend it highly for its local geography, the people and the story itself.

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

IN PAPERBACK:

All the Devils are Here by Louise Penny-Audio Book

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsAugust 11, 2020

  I love this book!  I did not want it to end as I did not want to bid farewell to Gamache and the other characters for at least another year.

I’ll start by commenting on the audio.  The book was extremely well and engagingly narrated.  I was constantly stealing time to listen to just a bit more.  The narrator’s tone is just right and he captures each character’s voice in a unique way.

The story itself will be very welcomed by series readers although new readers could also enjoy it.  Readers learn so much backstory about Armand Gamache including SPOILER? the loss of his parents and the roles of his grandmother and godfather in his life.

The setting for this title is a fully realized Paris where the Gamaches are visiting their son, daughter and their spouses and children, all of whom now live there.  Armand also spends time with his godfather.  I loved the opening scene at the Rodin Museum.  Having visited there, I enjoyed my virtual return.

Just who is Stephen Horowitz?  What has he done?  Who wanted to harm him?  What does it mean to be in a family? What are the responsibilities of corporations? What does loyalty mean?  Can we protect those we love?  These questions and more are raised in this thoughtful, deeply moving mystery.

I recommend this title most highly.  I now plan to go back and read or listen to all of the books again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

by Lynn Plourde

Pub Date 01 Aug 2021

#BestBuddies #NetGalley

Anyone who can remember what it was like to adore a childhood pet will want to share this title with a child that they know. It is that sweet. And, speaking of sweet, this quote sums up the relationship between this child and his dog:

Like cake and frosting, the best buddies always stuck together.

The story begins when a baby boy is born and comes home from the hospital. From that moment, until the boy starts school, person and pet are inseparable. Having to be away from each other challenges both. What do they do to stay connected?

This is a lovely book. The illustrations are so engaging and adorable. They perfectly show the close relationship between human and animal.

I highly recommend this one.

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

Edited by Fred R. Shapiro

Pub Date 31 Aug 2021

Often when a person has something to say, they want their words to be backed up. Other times, someone wants to randomly explore what others have said to see if the words resonates in some way. Sometimes a person needs to give a speech and wants their words to have a bit more weight. For these and many other reasons, people look to quotes. So, what could be more welcome than a book that is packed full of quotes? And even better, a book with the imprimatur of Yale University.

As noted above, this book is jammed with quotes. It is easy to just wander through taking time to think about what has been said on a subject. No matter who or what a reader is looking for, they will find inspiration here.

The book is organized by author. Each entry includes an identifying characteristic for the author and their dates of birth (and death, if needed). Happily there is also an index of keywords. In addition, there are a number of special sections; for example, there are ones on slogans and proverbs. Therefore, when words are needed they can be found.

The New Yale Book of Quotations is a title that should be available for school and home libraries. It is not inexpensive but the collected wisdom makes it worth the price.

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

A sleuth with corgis: The Windsor Knot

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsNovember 29, 2020

A Novel

by SJ Bennett

#TheWindsorKnot #NetGalley

Please note that this review is for the unabridged audio of this title. It will be released in the U.S. in March. The book is out in the U.K.

Right now, many are absorbed in watching the latest season of The Crown. There is a lot of back and forth about what is true and what is fictional drama. Well, as far as I know, The Windsor Knot is totally fiction about the monarch as detective.

This is an absolutely delightful and enjoyable title and one that I recommend highly for an escapist break. Give it a try.

In The Windsor Knot, there are murder, mysterious Russians, ballet dancers, Chinese speakers, a very likeable Nigerian aide to the Queen called Rosie, various government and palace workers, family members of the Queen, visiting dignitaries, including Obama and more. All are engagingly portrayed.

The character of the queen feels pitch perfect. She is portrayed as a woman well aware of her role and importance but also as someone with an interior life, likes and dislikes. She is a detective who uses her access to information and her Poirot like gray cells to solve the case.

The narrator of the audio book is just splendid. She captures the characters and accents with aplomb and individual voices. I was only sorry when I had to part with her at the end of this title.

Put this one on your TBR or TBL (to be listened to) pile. Enjoy! It is part of a series so there is more to come.

This is the first book that I have read by Ellery Adams and I truly enjoyed it. The protagonist, Nora, is a bookseller who believes that there is a book that is just right for each customer’s particular emotional state; the notion that one could get meaningful suggestions from a bookseller was lovely in this day of internet sales. I enjoyed the many literary references and the back stories of the protagonists. There are also hints of romance. If you like cozies, I would recommend this book highly.

The Rose Code

A Novel

by Kate Quinn

#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.

THIS TITLE IS AN E BOOK BARGAIN FOR THE WEEK OF 6.27.21

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsJune 17, 2020

This book will certainly be quickly picked up and read by those who love stories about Elizabeth and Phillip, and/or by those who enjoyed the Netflix series, The Crown.  This story starts as one of youth; readers observe as Elizabeth and Phillip get to know each other, beginning when the future queen was just a girl.  There is an early vivid scene of a Christmas pantomime at the castle during WWII.  Elizabeth is an Aladdin who eagerly looks for a certain dashing naval officer in the audience.  She is clearly interested in him.  But, what does he think of or want from her?  Even if you know how history played out, the author manages to create some suspense.

Phillip is portrayed as interested in this young Elizabeth but also as a man who is not fully ready to settle down.  The influence of his family history (royalty without a country) and his uncle Mountbatten’s pressure to become the future monarch’s husband are realistically portrayed.

Another section of the book, at the end of the war, shows Elizabeth as the young girl she is.  This has been the subject of a movie, A Royal Night Out. and very much comes to life in the novel.  It was one time when Elizabeth was able to shed her persona and be part of a crowd in a celebration.

From these beginning chapters, the author crafts a well told accounting of one of the longest and most famous marriages in the Western world, one that Elizabeth’s father did not initially endorse.  Readers are swept along as this couple moves toward one another and their eventual wedding.  Be there with them on this journey as the pages turn.

I highly recommend this readable and enjoyable historical novel.  Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

pub date:  September 18, 2020

THIS NOVEL IS AN E BOOK BARGAIN FOR THE WEEK OF 6.27.21

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsMarch 22, 2020

Meet Me in Monaco feels like the perfect title for right now.  It is a gentle, romantic story that will allow its readers to escape daily life.  Much of the book is set in France with its beautiful towns and countryside.  And then, of course, readers also spend time in Monaco itself.

The background for the story is Grace Kelly’s wedding to Prince Rainier but Sophie and Jim are also prominent characters for whom readers want the best.  Sophie is a parfumier with a beloved family business that is facing financial ruin.  The man she is to marry does not always seem right for her.  Jim is a photographer assigned at times to follow Ms. Kelly.  Jim is divorced and the woman in his life is daughter, Emily.

Sophie meets Jim when he chases Grace into Sophie’s store.  From this beginning, readers will spend time with the three and with the others who surround them, all the while hoping for fairy tale endings.

The book follows a typical narrative structure with the addition of nterspersed news articles.  These are fun to read and help readers to feel that they are witnesses to the action.

This novel was written by two authors who worked very well together.  It was impossible for me to detect who was writing when.

I highly recommend this novel for those who need a bit of feel good time.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.

THIS NOVEL IS AN E BOOK BARGAIN FOR THE WEEK OF 6.27.21

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsMay 1, 2019

#TheViewFromAlamedaIsland #NetGalley

Fans of Robyn Carr’s will be delighted to find that she has a new (non-series) novel out just in time for spring and Mother’s Day. This book is about second chances, making the kind of life that you want to have happen and of not holding back out of fear.

The story focuses on Lauren who seems to have it all…except that, of course, she doesn’t. She is married to Brad, a successful surgeon, and has two daughters.

Beau is married with two stepsons. He is a landscape architect whose marriage has been unhappy for years.

Tim is a priest and friend of Beau’s. He also becomes a friend of Lauren’s.

What happens to each of these characters, those around them and their relationships forms the basis of the novel. The pages turn easily and readers will be interested in how the characters fare. A good women’s fiction book all in all.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.