With 500 perplexing questions to BAMBOOZLE your friends!

by Jane Wilsher

I like the cover of this book with its hints of some of the topics that will be found inside. The facts are divided into a number of categories. These include Human Body; Science and Tech; Animals; Natural World; Space; Mindbending Stuff; History; Customs and Cultures; Our World; Arts and Entertainment; and Jargon Buster.

This book can be read in any order or just by opening a page at random. It could be fun to read alone or to read with others. However a child chooses to look at this book, they will find a lot to fascinate them. Just some of the questions include:

How old were you when your fingerprints developed?

What’s a borygmus?

Which British scientist suffered from seasickness?

What year was the first email sent?

Which creatures can nap for three years?

Were there any women pirates?

What is one of the oldest musical instruments? and so many, many more.

This book seems perfect as a gift for a summer read. Give it to a child you know.

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

Pub Date 22 Jun 2021

A Distant Grave follows on the success of last year’s first in this series, The Mountains Wild. I wish that both books had slightly more engaging titles and covers as they deserve to be picked up and read. I gave a very favorable review to The Mountains Wild. Ideally, it should be read before A Distant Grave as otherwise there are some spoilers at thes beginning of the book. Readers who are fine with that can certainly start with this one though.

Maggie D’Arcy is again straddling two continents; part of this title takes place in North America (on Long Island) and part in Europe (Ireland). There are also sections that take place in Afghanistan. Each locale is fully brought to life.

Familiar characters from the first book abound; these include Maggie’s daughter, Lilly; her uncle, Frank; Irish boyfriend Conor and the many police and legal officers in both places. I enjoyed spending time with all of them.

Maggie’s case centers on the perplexing death of humanitarian aid worker, Gabriel who is murdered in Maggie’s neighborhood. There are many strands to his life and death. Does his demise have to do with his mother’s rebellious and independent nature that led her to be a single mother in conservative Ireland? Does it have to do with who Gabriel’s father was? Why was Gabriel’s Irish lawyer also murdered? What does the case have to do with Gabriel’s time in Afghanistan (if anything)? Are there connections between the murders and some of those with whom Maggie works in New York? What brought Gabriel to New York any way?

Readers can intuit that with all of these questions, finding the answers will make for an involving read. There is the added plus of the fully realized and engaging characters.

I highly recommend this title to those who enjoy mystery and suspense novels. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher! All opinions are my own.

Bibliophiles rejoice: The Lions of Fifth Avenue A Novel by Fiona Davis

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsMarch 8, 2020

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.

Broken Ground by Val McDermid

Two other books in this series are also bargains this week! Highly recommended.

by joycesmysteryandfictionbookreviewsNovember 18, 2018

#BrokenGround #NetGalley

Val McDermid writes a number of series; of them all, the Karen Pirie novels are my favorites. Broken Ground is the newest of these.
I enjoy Karen. She is a quirky woman who has faced a significant loss and is still recovering. In this novel, she gingerly considers a new relationship. She is an old fashioned copper who cares about justice and what is right. She is loyal to those on her team who are still learners.
Karen is the head of the Historical Cases Unit in Scotland. Spending time with her, the members of her team (including her adversaries) and her cases is always time well-spent. In this novel, there are several stories; one relates to events of WWII, another to a serial rapist, and there is also a present day murder. Each of these plots is explored satisfactorily.
I finished this book today and am already looking forward to what happens next in the series. I highly recommend both this book and the series.

Many (!) thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this satisfying read.

I very much enjoyed this historical novel set during WWI. It combines engaging characters and gardens. What a good combination!
What made this book a bit different from other books set in the period was the attention given to a character who was a conscientious objector. Also the author pays attention to issues related to equal pay for women.
Highly recommended for historical fiction fans.

Brontë

by Manuela Santoni

This graphic novel imagines the lives of the Brontes. There are the father, the somewhat dissolute brother, Branwell and of course, those three sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily. The sister’s relationships and their writing lives are depicted here. Much attention is also given to Branwell and his impact on his siblings. The illustrations are all in black and white and evoke the lives and times of the family. Those looking to learn more about this family and those who could enjoy a new take on those they already know may enjoy this title.

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

by Ben Handicott, Kalya Ryan

Pub Date 22 Jun 2021

I confess that I love puzzle books for kids. They do not require screens yet can keep children entertained. They are especially useful for times when kids are confined in some type of transportation.

This title has a variety of activities that require nothing more than colored pencils, a little imagination and some thinking. What could be better?

A few examples of the puzzles included here are a spot the difference, jumbled up bird names, odd one out, and find the hidden name. There is also room for coloring. Consider this one for a child you know.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title.