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

All of these titles come from Harper Collins and none is more thatn $4.99.  Hope there is something for you here.  Let me know.

This book tells the stories of five prominent women who lived on Mecklenburgh Square in London in the 1900s. The subjects did not necessarily know one another but they shared an address during years when women were beginning to assert their independence in relationships and work.

The five women are the writer/poet HD; Dorothy Sayers who is well-known for the Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane mysteries; Jane Harrison a prominent classical scholar; Eileen Power a scholar in the field of economics and, finally, Virginia Woolf, an author beloved by many. Each has a chapter in the book in their own right with connections being acknowledged when they are there. As one example, both HD and Dorothy Sayers were involved with the writer John Cournos.

The book begins with a fabulous introduction that provides the historic context for what follows. This, in itself, could be read as an excellent essay. The author then tells the story of each of these women. Every one of them had a complex life in which they tried to accomplish what they felt was important. There are so many vignettes. Below is one.

Dorothy Sayers gave to her characters what she wanted herself. The author says that when money was hard to come by, Sayers lavished a lifestyle she did not have on Wimsey. He had the cars, the homes, the food, the servants that Dorothy did not. Sayers also gave Harriet Vane the relationship that she, Dorothy, may have wanted; it was one among equals. To share a fact that I had not known, Dorothy became pregnant and had a child whom she could not raise due to the mores of the time.

This title is written in a very readable and fluid style. The pages turn easily and I was always looking forward to the next time that I would have the chance to read more.

If you are interested in the lives of women, the compromises that one may or may not make in life and this little neighborhood in London, pick up the book. I recommend it most highly.

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

#SquareHaunting #NetGalley

This title is geared toward preschool aged children although I think that slightly older children could also benefit from it. The book is designed to help little ones recognize, experience and name their emotions.  The illustrations do a good job of evoking the feelings that they represent; for example, anger is marked by a flame.

Adults who have some insight can name and recognize what they are feeling.  This helps with self-regulation.  This book is beginning that process for children.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this helpful title.  All opinions are my own.

Pub Date 09 Jun 2020

#HowDoIFeel #NetGalley

This book is very aptly names.  The puzzles are, in fact, fiendishly difficult to solve.  This is at least partly due to the author’s ability to create a puzzle and the variety that she finds within each type.  This book includes crosswords, word searches, sudoku, calcudoku, kakuro and cryptograms.  In each category, Ms. Chen has created variations on a theme.  For example, the first word search puzzle is difficult but traditional.  Following this one though, the others all have a twist; for instance the next puzzle has anagrams and the one after that is called change the first letter.  Similarly most of the puzzles in the book have a twist that makes them quite challenging.

This book will be welcomed by those who want to immerse themselves in a challenge that could well take time.  Beginning puzzlers may be frustrated by the book.  Think about who you are and then decide.

Many thanks to Callisto publishing for this title.  All opinions are my own.

This title will be released on April 28, 2020.

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I have eagerly been awaiting this book’s arrival in my mail and today it came!  I enjoy doing crosswords and love the fact that this is large print; it just makes it so easy to comfortably sit down with a puzzle and relax.

This title contains 100 themed crossword puzzles.  The level of challenge is no where near impossible but enough to need to think.  For me, this book offers a perfect diversion, especially for right now.

So, take a break from some of your other activities, do a puzzle, think a little (on something that is not disaster) and enjoy what you accomplish.

Many, many thanks to Callisto for this book in exchange for an honest review.  I give it five *****,

Pub date: April 28, 2020

Just one comment:  The Howard books are all part of a series although, for some reason, the first one is not an e book bargain.  The first of the books is The Light Years.  Interestingly, there was recently a picture of Camilla (as in Charles and) sitting outside with a book and she was re-reading a favorite title from this series.

This picture book is filled with intricate and interesting illustrations.  The story itself is one of a young girl who, through the power of imagination, envisions a sandcastle that is large, complete with windows and fully furnished.  In this fantasy kings and queens come to visit and ice cream is served all day.  But wait!…there are some inconveniences with sandcastles just because…they are made of sand!  Young readers will watch to see what happens next.

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

Pub date: May 5, 2020

Viveca Sten is a very popular author in her native Sweden.  A number of her mysteries set on Sandhamn are now being released in the U.S.  There is also a tv series available on MHz that features the author’s stories.

Sandhamn is an idyllic summer colony located not far from Stockholm.  However, as in the much fluffier Murder She Wrote, the setting belies the nature of the murders and crimes that occur in the community.

In this entry, a student who was researching former members of the Coastal Guard seems to have committed suicide.  No surprise or spoiler really to say that so much more was involved.  I found this investigation into this crime and its historical antecedents to be both suspenseful and tragic.

Spending time with Thomas, Nora and those around them adds to the enjoyment of the book and provides some relief from the very sad experience of the Rangers.  I plan to continue reading this series and look forward to watching the relationships among the protagonists evolve.

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

Would you like to introduce a child to the magic of Charles Dickens’s stories?  The novels themselves, of course, are lengthy while this collection is a beautifully illustrated introduction to a number of the books.

Included in the retellings are Oliver Twist, The Old curiosity Shop, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, Nicholas Nickleby and Hard Times. Each story begins with a helpful illustrated list of characters.

The stories are expertly retold, having sufficient detail to not just be summaries, and may well inspire a child to read one of the full length books.  That would be a good project for the current moment. All in all, a wonderful resource.

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

Pub date: May 19, 2020

#AWorldFullofDickensStories #NetGalley

This is a book for the very youngest among us.  It is a board book with felt to feel as an integral part of the printed book.  The illustrations are charming incuding a hedgehog, a lion, a giraffe and more.  I think that this book will most definitely appeal to babies and toddlers.

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

Pub date:  July 2020