www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/06/10/books/summer-books-quiz.html
Humor
A Beautiful Rival
by Gill Paul
Gill Paul is one of my favorite authors of historical fiction. Somehow this one passed me by for a while, though I am now happy to have read it.
Meet Canadian Arden and Polish Rubinstein in alternating chapters, starting in 1915. These two became fierce rivals who were not above committing any number of dirty tricks to achieve success.
I had earlier read a novel about Estee Lauder. Here readers spend time with the other two towering female cosmetics giants. Readers get to know them in alternating chapters, starting in 1915.
What is remarkable about all of these women is that they were quite successful in a time when most women were not founding and managing companies. They all were cutthroat competitors who fought for all that they achieved. They do not always come across as likeable but their legacies were lasting.
Those who are interested in the beauty industry and/or those who enjoy historical fiction featuring strong women may well want to give this title a look.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Pub date: 31 August 2023
Historical Fiction
400 pages
Other titles by Gill Paul:
Jumbo Bible Word Search by David and Julie Lavender
#JumboBibleWordSearch #NetGalley
This book offers large print word search puzzles that all share biblical themes. It could be enjoyed by those who are interested in thinking about the passages and those who simply enjoy word search puzzles.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Zeitgeist for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 19 August 2025
August books
Thrillers
Historical fiction
The Carpool Detectives
A True Story of Four Moms, Two Bodies, and One Mysterious Cold Case
by Chuck Hogan
#TheCarpoolDetectives #NetGalley
I confess that I do not really read true crime although I would list crime and mystery fiction as a great love. I find the world way too full of bad things already so choose fictional murders for my pleasure reading. Still, I felt a prickle of curiosity when I received an invitation to read this one. It certainly turned out to be interesting.
The Publisher’s Description:
A lot of us like to think we could solve a mystery. Can these four moms actually do it?
In 2020, Marissa, Jeannie, Samira, and Nicole find themselves at a familiar crossroads: when motherhood takes charge of their lives, they begin grappling with their own identities. Their thriving careers seem like a lifetime ago, and as their children become more independent, they struggle to find purpose. But when they meet at a bowling night fundraiser for their kids’ school, they discover a shared interest in true crime that crystalizes around a mysterious double homicide that took place in their hometown a decade earlier: A couple in their 60s vanished overnight from their home and mysteriously shuttered their family business, leaving millions of dollars unaccounted for. Initially believed to have absconded with the money, they went from suspects to victims when their bodies were discovered in their car at the bottom of a steep ravine. And then the case turned cold.
But what if the moms could solve it? What if they could bring a killer to justice and give closure to a grieving family?
The four women have no connection to the case and no law-enforcement background, but the determined group find themselves in incredible and often dangerous situations–digging for evidence in prohibited ravines, scouring potential crime scenes for blood splatter, and sifting through pages and pages of dense police files. As they get more and more entangled in this complex investigation, they also find themselves in real danger—and with information that could blow the case wide open.
An emotional and often terrifying odyssey through a DIY criminal investigation, The Carpool Detectives is the ultimate wish fulfillment for any true crime fanatic, an absolutely thrilling read for armchair sleuths and mystery fans alike.
My thoughts:
This book read quite a bit like fiction. The four women did something remarkable in investigating this case, beginning with a somewhat naive Marissa (not her real name) wanting to explore the events and drawing in some other moms as well. I don’t think that I want to be a real investigator but this book will, I think, appeal to many who long for exactly this.
Kirkus Reviews describes this book as a “Riveting read about real-life Nancy Drews that seems destined for the big or small screen.”
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 29 July 2025
352 pages
True Crime
From the Publisher
An e book bargain: A timeless read-The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton
This is the third novel that I have read by Kate Morton and it is by far my favorite. I loved this novel! I am going to give it one of my rare five star reviews and say that it is one of my best reads of the year.
Aptly named with an allusion about time, The Clockmaker’s Daughter takes place in different periods including the 1860’s, 1899, 1928, WWII, 1962 and the present. Like the exquisite, interlocking, sensitive and perfectly balanced workings of a clock. the characters are connected over time and in their relationships. The revelations of the interconnections add depth and emotional resonance to the novel.
The plot is complex as would be expected in a novel that keeps the reader’s interest for over 500 pages. Characters include an artist, his model and their circle; the backstory of the model; the artist’s family; a young British girl sent to boarding school in England from India; an archivist; a biographer; a hunter of lost treasure and more. The most consistent and overarching presence is that of Birdie, the clockmaker’s daughter and artist’s model who is a spiritual (ghostly) presence throughout. For me Birdie worked perfectly even though I do not gravitate toward books with spirits. The other main character is the house where much of the story takes place. Within the pages there are mysteries, murder, love, grief, family and friendship.
I was sorry to finish this book as I enjoyed it so much. I hope that you will too.
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this wonderful and engrossing read.
An e book bargain: Another Woman’s Husband
This novel comes out in the U.S. today. I read the British version which has already been published.
Mary Kirk, Bessiewallis Warfield, Diana Spencer…their stories entwine in this historical novel that is largely based on truth. It is a page turning and fascinating look at life in America and Europe from 1912 until 1997.
Mary and Wallis became friends in their teens; Wallis married an American pilot; Mary married a French pilot. Wallis divorced and subsequently married Ernest Simpson. You probably all know who her third husband was… but do you know who Mary married next? I won’t spoil the book by telling you.
Mary and Wallis’s stories come alive in a glittering London. The story of Alex and Rachel, who are impacted by Diana’s death, takes place in 1997. Choices are made by all with implications and consequences. I truly enjoyed this book and suggest it highly to fans of historical fiction.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 