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

I have just begun reading this book which is gently provocative and inspiring.  The author, ordained within the Episcopal Church, has left the ministry to begin teaching World Religion in a small, largely Christian college.

Written in a highly accessible, almost novelistic tone, Ms. Taylor introduces the reader to her students and their studies.  She encourages the reader to think about the role of religion in our lives.  Although I have not yet finished the book, I have the feeling that I will be savoring it right up to the end.  This is a thoughtful and highly recommended read.

From Goodreads:

The renowned and beloved New York Times bestselling author of An Altar in the World and Learning to Walk in the Dark recounts her moving discoveries of finding the sacred in unexpected places while teaching the world’s religions to undergraduates in rural Georgia, revealing how God delights in confounding our expectations.

Barbara Brown Taylor continues her spiritual journey begun in Leaving Church of finding out what the world looks like after taking off her clergy collar. In Holy Envy, she contemplates the myriad ways other people and traditions encounter the Transcendent, both by digging deeper into those traditions herself and by seeing them through her students’ eyes as she sets off with them on field trips to monasteries, temples, and mosques.

Troubled and inspired by what she learns, Taylor returns to her own tradition for guidance, finding new meaning in old teachings that have too often been used to exclude religious strangers instead of embracing the divine challenges they present. Re-imagining some central stories from the religion she knows best, she takes heart in how often God chooses outsiders to teach insiders how out-of-bounds God really is.

Throughout Holy Envy, Taylor weaves together stories from the classroom with reflections on how her own spiritual journey has been complicated and renewed by connecting with people of other traditions—even those whose truths are quite different from hers.  The one constant in her odyssey is the sense that God is the one calling her to disown her version of God—a change that ultimately enriches her faith in other human beings and in God.

Wayward Girls tells the stories of six young women who, for various reasons, were sent to an institution in Buffalo, New York that was much like Ireland’s Magdalen Laundries. These were places were vulnerable young girls, many times the victims of others, were sent when they became pregnant when they were single or otherwise were not conforming to society’s rules. Even worse, one character was sent to this hell, when it was her stepfather who was the offending party. The men often seemed to be able to continue as they had been with little consequence for their mistreatment of their victims.

Anyone who wonders about the historic (lack of) rights for young women will be justifiably appalled by what happened to these girls who were further victimized and judged by those who should have helped them. Readers will very much hope that somehow these six young women will be able to go on to better lives post institution. Their friendships should help.

Disclosure: I have worked with birth mothers from this time and know many of their stories. This made a book, that was excellent, very difficult for me to read.

One note: The story begins with a girl who says that she needs a pre-adoption certificate to get a passport. I have never heard of that requirement.

Kudos to Wiggs for bravely showing readers what life was like for some young women. I believe that she hopes that a time like this will not come again.

This is definitely a worthwhile title. It is not all depressing.

The audio:

This is an excellent audio version of Susan Wiggs’s latest novel. In a special treat for her readers, Wiggs reads the author’s note. The narration for this title is clear and easy to follow, though the story itself is harrowing at times.

Many thanks to Harper Audio for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 15 July 2025

This book has been on my bookshelf for years. Not sure what took me so long to read it as I enjoyed this one and will read others in the twelve book series.

In this title, readers meet Lane Winslow. She has moved to the country outside of a small town in far western Canada. Lane left England after WWII. Then, she worked under the Official Secrets Act and had her heart broken as the death of her lover was reported. She needed a new start and has no idea of the events that will shake her in her new home.

The story takes place in 1946, a time of party lines for the phone and no technology. This means that the policing will reflect that time.

Lane is glad for her new start and comes to know the neighbors/suspects in her new community. These include a WWI veteran who suffered the loss of his marriage and a fire on his property when he returned home, a family who has a secret and came from the eastern U.S., a family with an unstable mother, feckless son and a father who made some bad decisions, and the family from whom Lane bought her house. There is also the appropriately named Inspector Darling who will most likely become romantically involved with Lane as the series goes on.

A stranger comes to the community and is murdered. Who is he? What brought him to Nelson? Why is someone trying to frame Lane? How will his death reverberate for these characters? How will elements of Lane’s past come into play? Find out and then decide to perhaps read the next in the series. It is solid.

Next up:

Close to Death is a take on an AgathaChristie style mystery with the additional spin of this author”s cleverness. It is the latest in the series that features Detective Hawthorne and, yes, the character Anthony Horowitz.

This time the structure of the book is a bit different. Hawthorne, who gives Horowitz case material for his novels, is revealing a past puzzler. Some of the novel is a take on those events and other parts involve the perspectives of the two protagonists.

A close is a kind of dead end street. In this upscale one, a number of neighbors detest the newest family. The annoying, inconsiderate and very wealthy Kenworthy is murdered. The suspects include a GP, a retired barrister, two elderly former nuns, a chess grandmaster, a dentist and those around them. Whodunnit? Why? The pages turn as readers wait to fond out.

Last year I heard the author speak. He was very entertaining, just as he is in his writing. i think that he was enjoying himself here. The book offers a good read.

Note that, although this is part of a series, it can be read on its own.

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

Pub date: 16 April 2024

#MyFirstChristmasPianoMusic #NetGalley

This title is published well ahead of Christmas so that kids can start playing these pieces now. Hopefully, they will be able to play them well by the holiday season.

Here are many seasonal favorites including over 20 carols. To name just a few, there are Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Joy to the World and, Hark the Herald Angels Sing. All are designed for young kids’ level of skills.

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

Pub date: 15 July 2025

Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives

by Gretchen Rubin

#SecretsofAdulthood #NetGalley

Gretchen Rubin has been offering her wisdom to readers over the course of many books. She began with The Happiness Project and most recently Life in Five Senses, with several others in between.

This title is a bit different from some of Rubin’s others in that it consists of a series of aphorisms-dictionary definition is “a pithy observation that contains a general truth.” Rubin compiled these for herself and her family. She now shares them with her readers.

This is a title that can be dipped in and out of. It is divided into sections including Cultivating Ourselves, Facing the Perplexities of Relationships, Making Things Happen, Confronting Life’s Dilemmas, and more. Each of sections has a number of entries as for example, Comfort, Responsibility and, Getting It Wrong.

This book could make a nice graduation gift for someone. Those who are not of school age may also find wisdom here. For myself, I think that aphorisms were not quite enough. I wish that there had been more commentary. However, that was not the author’s intention. She was looking for short, meaningful things to guide others.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Self-Help

176 pages

Pub date: 01 April 2025

Note: Gretchen Rubin is interviewed in the May edition of Psychologies magazine.

An earlier title by the author:

An e book bargain-Life in Five Senses

Five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

So many adults have fond memories of reading the Anne of Green Gables series. In her books, Ms. George hopes to spark that same feeling in young readers. One hopes that they will then move on to the originals.

Ms. George has done a nice job in her series of six books in all. She captures the spirt of Montgomery’s language and phrasing. Favorite people are here including Marilla, Diana, Gilbert, Miss Stacey, and Anne, of course. While sadly, this is the last book, the set would make a nice gift for a summer reader.

In this entry, that is illustrated and has short chapters, Anne is unhappy with her trademark red hair. What will happen when she wants a change? What will she learn? What will she want to do with her life? Readers will enjoy finding out in this lovely end to the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub date: 05 August 2025

72 pages

Others by this author:

Now out: If I Couldn’t Be Anne by Kallie George

It’s tough for her: Anne’s Tragical Tea Party by Kallie George

That E matters: Anne’s School Days

Yes, that Anne: Anne Dares (Kallie George)

All of the Maisie Dobbs books by Jacqueline Winspear have been excellent.  The novels are best read in order but are worthwhile no matter how you do it.  The series begins around the time of WWI and is now taking place during WWII.  Maisie is a self-aware heroine who has a strong moral compass in a world that is often in chaos.  You will value spending time with her, her family and her friends.  If you have enjoyed the Maggie Hope series or books written by Charles Todd, you will not regret giving this series a try.

#TheParisSecret #NetGalley

Note that I am commenting on the extended preview. ALSO NOTE: I HAVE SINCE READ AND VERY MUCH ENJOYED THE WHOLE NOVEL!

This book appears to have many elements that will make it an engrossing read. I will certainly buy the book so that I can spend more time with this book’s characters and story lines.

After an opening set in the days after WWII, the novel moves to the year 1928 when Skye and Liberty Penrose are children being raised by their single mother. Their mother Vanessa, who predicts the future for clients, is a pilot who has passed on her love of the skies to her aptly named older daughter.

When the reader first meets Skye, she is ten and unconventional. Younger sister Liberty appears prone to temper tantrums and may be less than stable. Skye meets Nick during this summer and it is clear that they will have connections throughout the entire story.

The book jumps to 2012 in the following section. In this, a descendant of one of the main characters, Kat, travels to Cornwall to visit her grandmother’s house. Grandmother Margaux has ties to Nick and Skye as I think will become clearer.

This is another story with sections set before, during and after WWII. Illuminated through Skye is a story of the women who flew planes during the war. There is a sense that Liberty and the other main characters will face many threats as the novel continues. It also feels like the past and present will tie together by the end of the book.

This appears to be an involving and interesting novel. As noted above, I will be purchasing it so that I can see how it ends.

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

#2026ABookofGraceFilledDays #NetGalley

This book offers a bit of wisdom and contemplation for every day, starting in December 2025 and moving through all of 2026. Each short entry invites the reader in-to think, to perhaps find comfort or inspiration for daily behavior, and to pray if they are a person who does.

I think that this book will be liked by its intended audience. A time for reflection could be just the perfect way to start a day.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Loyola Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

Note that this book is Christian in nature. Those who are not Christian, might however, also like the thoughts for the day.

Pub date: 29 July 2025

400 pages