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

Tasha Alexander’s historical mysteries take place early in the 20th century. In this entry, Lady Emily and her husband Colin are visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum where they become entangled in murder and chaos. The book also includes a novel within a novel that tells the story of a (freed) slave, a young woman poet and her fate.

The strengths of this book include the settings and the characters with whom I wanted to spend time. The author has done significant research and her description of the excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum are filled with atmosphere, historical terms, and objects. Similarly, the world of the poet, Kassandra, comes vividly to life with its taverns, food stalls and homes both ostentatious and simple.

I enjoyed the relationship of Emily with her husband, Colin, and close friend, a lord. Kassandra, Lepida (her former owner), Lepida’s husband and Melas, a painter are all well drawn. Also, readers of the series will be interested to get to know Kat, but no spoilers here. I found the murder mystery itself to be less compelling and felt that the story could have been edited just a bit.

Nonetheless, if you are curious about archaeology and enjoy historical mysteries, you might want to pick up this latest in the series. I also recommend this author’s earlier title, A Death in St. Petersburg.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this title in exchange for an honest review.

This title is a non-fiction book for beginning readers.  It is illustrated throughout with photographs of children and the adults that they encounter during their school day.  The book elaborates some of the basic tenets of working together including, for example, honesty, sharing, fairness and responsibility.  There is a detailed section at the end of the book on ways to reinforce a child’s reading skills.  This book could be used with young children early in the school year as a way to talk about ways to behave when in school.

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

#WorkingTogetheratSchool #NetGalley

This book contains beautiful photos of cats. I enjoyed this aspect of the book very much. The written content is poems told from a cat’s point of view. My sense is that they are meant to be funny. I did not especially enjoy the poems although I can see what the writer is trying to do. If you are a cat lover and you read this one, please let me know what you think. Thanks.

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

This book is exactly as advertised.  It is a compilation of easy to prepare, appealing small bites.  There are recipes in categories including light snacks, dips & spreads, finger foods, savory plates, fancy bites and something sweet.  A few of the recipes include crispy garlic butter smashed potatoes, salmon fritters, cheese stuffed chicken meatballs marinara, bacon wrapped asparagus, chunky guacamole and marinated feta with rosemary and orange.  The instructions are clear and easy to follow.  All in all, a great resource for those who are entertaining this holiday season!

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

#TheEasyAppetizerCookbook #NetGalley

From the publisher:

The Mitford Murders is the start of a series.  The third entry will be published soon.  See archive for my review of this title.  Otherwise, a thriller, a novel and a modern classic.

Charles M. Schulz had a unique gift for finding both the humor and sweetness in every day life. This book is another great collection featuring the Peanuts gang. There are strips about school, fitness, wanting acceptance and more, all illustrated with gentle humor. This is a great book to dip into. It will make you smile for sure.

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

A few years ago, I read this author’s earlier work, The Return, for a class that I was taking. It was truly an extraordinary book written by a writer of immense talent. The story of the author’s return to Libya and his quest (it really is one) to learn more about his father, the book was moving and thought provoking. As soon as I saw this title on NetGalley, I so hoped that I would be provided with a copy of the book in exchange for my review.

So, here I am highly recommending this book to you. It tells the story of how Matar, following The Return, planned a trip to Sienna. For reasons that he describes, the work of painters from this region were important to him. He almost did not make it. Luckily for the reader, he did.

Matar writes about where he stayed and his experience of the paintings that he came to see. It is a wonderful book by a writer with fluid grace. A couple of quotes to give you an idea.

On a bad plane ride:

I remember thinking I did not mind dying-that it would have to come at some point-but that I was not quite ready yet, that dying now would be a waste, given how much time I had spent learning how to live.

On the school of painting:

They believe that what we share is more than what sets us apart. The Sienna School is hopeful but also flattering…

By challenging the imagination they nudge our perception a little and, for an instant at least, the world is remade.

I highly recommend this book. It is special. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

Greta and the Giants is a beautifully illustrated story book about the difference that can be made when one person, in this case a child, protests, educates and makes change happen.  It is loosely based on Greta Thornberg and there is a section on her and things that children can do at the end of the book.  In the story itself, Greta is trying to get giants (corporations) to stop defiling the forest.  As other join her a movement is born.

It is painful to think that young children need to know about climate change, but they do.  This book, along with some follow up discussion, is a good introduction to a hard topic.

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

#GretaAndTheGiants #NetGalley

From the publisher:

This board book is designed to help children prepare for a check up. I found it to be fairly sophisticated for the young readers it targets. There is a lot of information in the book and this includes some medical terminology. Sphygmomanometer seems like an impressive word for a toddler and pre-schooler’s book. Read with a parent, this book can certainly help a child to know more about their body, what happens at a check up and why things like vaccines are given.

The illustrations that accompany the text are appealing. I especially love all of the eyes that are featured on these pages.

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

Some comments:  I really enjoyed Into the Woods and have gone on to read all of Tana French’s novels.  The books are in a new television series on the Starz network. Grantchester is the book upon which the PBS series is based.  This title and the series are not exactly the same although they feature many of the same characters.  The Royal Secret is by the author of The Seven Sisters series which I have blogged on.  I have not read this non-series novel yet.  Happy reading!