This is an entertaining new installment in this series. When Lila’s long lost cousin returns to town, she knows he’s trouble. He brings a host of partThis is an entertaining new installment in this series. When Lila’s long lost cousin returns to town, she knows he’s trouble. He brings a host of partners and investors in his new wine business, as well as a bunch of secrets and underhanded activities. The mystery gets pretty complicated by the end, but it’s an enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for the review copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Although I prefer Christie's puzzle novels over her spy/conspiracy plots, this is an enjoyable book because of Tommy and Tuppence. I love the post-WWIAlthough I prefer Christie's puzzle novels over her spy/conspiracy plots, this is an enjoyable book because of Tommy and Tuppence. I love the post-WWI context with these two young unemployed characters - one a former soldier and the other a war volunteer. Tommy and Tuppence are delightful characters, and I also like the way that they evoke a real predicament of unemployment in the post war period....more
18 books into the series, Rhys Bowen continues to delight me with her Royal Spyness books. Here we have the usual cast of delightful characters - Quee18 books into the series, Rhys Bowen continues to delight me with her Royal Spyness books. Here we have the usual cast of delightful characters - Queenie, Georgie's mom, her grandfather (too briefly), the odious Mrs. Simpson, the equally odious Fig, Binky, and their kids. I missed Belinda, but have a feeling she'll be back. In this novel, multiple guests are imposed on Georgie and Darcy - Fig and her family sponging off her while they take Podge on tours of local schools, Mrs. Simpson (at the King's request), and the cast and crew of a Hollywood film that Sir Hubert has agreed they can film on the grounds. The tensions between all these characters add drama to the scene, and the disappearance of one of the cast members leads to an investigation. The murder itself doesn't arrive until well into the book, and the solution feels rushed. I almost feel like Bowen could have skipped the murder because there is plenty of material in the set up itself.
I received an arc of this title from Edelweiss, Berkley, and PRH in exchange for an honest review....more
This is the third book in the Blanche White series, and Blanche is *pissed.* She is NOT taking it from anyone: not her white politician employer who cThis is the third book in the Blanche White series, and Blanche is *pissed.* She is NOT taking it from anyone: not her white politician employer who courts black voters, but vilifies them behind their backs; not the black minister who does Blanche's employer's political outreach to the community by knowingly convincing people to vote against their interests; not for her homophobic coworkers, friends, and relatives; and definitely not for the grown man who got her 16 year-old niece pregnant. This book covers a lot of ground socially, racially, and politically, and Blanche's sensible and caring approach to the issues that affect her community is bolstered by her determination not to be bullied or belittled. The mystery at the center of this novel is embedded in inequity, structural racism, and misogyny. Watching Blanche's persistence in unraveling deception and hidden violence is incredibly satisfying - just as satisfying as watching Blanche re-evaluate her own assumptions along the way....more
When I saw this book at the Learned Owl bookshop outside Cleveland, I knew that I had to buy it. I'm a complete sucker for Austen tie-ins, and the curWhen I saw this book at the Learned Owl bookshop outside Cleveland, I knew that I had to buy it. I'm a complete sucker for Austen tie-ins, and the current political situation has had me running to cozies for escape. This isn't the best cozy I've ever read - and the protagonist is unpleasant, and I don't think that's intentional. But it is light and follows the formula and even throws in some plot elements from P&P. The solution to the mystery makes sense, even if all the evidence comes in at the last minute, and the relationships between the characters work. I'm not sure if I'm going to read the follow up anytime soon, but this was a good distraction for this moment....more
I'm a big fan of Kemper Donovan's podcast, All About Agatha, so I *had* to read his first attempt at a puzzle mystery. On the whole, it's successful, I'm a big fan of Kemper Donovan's podcast, All About Agatha, so I *had* to read his first attempt at a puzzle mystery. On the whole, it's successful, and the solution makes sense given the story. Kemper's depiction of a Hilary Clinton, but not quite Hilary Clinton, character was well done, and I'd love to have had her as the main detective. She's distinctive and relentless and the most fun character to be around in the whole novel. The narrator's voice is glib to the point of being too cute, and that got in the way for me at times. The romance sub plot was also very clumsily done - no chemistry between the characters and seduction scenes that come off as comical rather than romantic. I can imagine those last two issues smoothing out over time, though, and I'm already looking forward to Donovan's next one, Loose Lips.
Thanks to Kensington Books and Edelweiss for the review copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Oh my goodness - I'm so glad my friend Rachelle recommended this book. If you're not into historical WW2 British fiction - and especially not a semi-cOh my goodness - I'm so glad my friend Rachelle recommended this book. If you're not into historical WW2 British fiction - and especially not a semi-cozy mystery set in that period - this is not the book for you. But for me, it was pure catnip. Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge are smart, independent, and complex women who've got their own demons, but are determined to see justice done. The Right Sort marriage bureau is an excellent invention. From the point of view of character, setting, and pace, this book was completely satisfying....more
I first read this book in college, and it was a happy surprise to re-read it and find it just as engrossing as I remembered it. It's ostensibly a mystI first read this book in college, and it was a happy surprise to re-read it and find it just as engrossing as I remembered it. It's ostensibly a mystery, and there is a death, but it's really an intricately crafted psychological study. Lucy Pym has been invited by an old friend to give a lecture on psychology at a girls physical college (a mixture of sports, dancing, gymnastics, physical training, kinesiology, and medicine). She winds up staying on and becomes engrossed in the personalities of the staff and students. When something goes horribly wrong, Lucy uses her observations of the students to unravel the motivations behind their actions. It's completely absorbing even if, ultimately, "as a psychologist," Lucy is "a first-rate teacher of French."...more
This was a re-read for me, so I have a hard time gauging the plot. Catherine Brobeck and Kemper Donovan on the All about Agatha podcast gave it a low This was a re-read for me, so I have a hard time gauging the plot. Catherine Brobeck and Kemper Donovan on the All about Agatha podcast gave it a low score for plot mechanics, and I don't disagree with anything they said about it. However, I found this one of the more enjoyable Christie re-reads I've done lately. I think it's because it's just as much a meditation on the passage of time (St. Mary Mead is now surrounded by a housing development and all the shops and residents have changed) and aging (Mrs. Marple now has to have a live-in companion). I don't usually think of Christie novels as being particularly strong in the character development part, but this one feels like an anomaly. Overall, I really liked the novel this time around....more
For me, one of my favorite reading experiences is when I check out an audiobook on Libby that I don't really know much about (or I can't even rememberFor me, one of my favorite reading experiences is when I check out an audiobook on Libby that I don't really know much about (or I can't even remember why it was recommended, and then like it so much that I am desperate to get my hands on a print or e copy so I can continue reading when I get out of the car.
That was my experience with this book. It's a semi-Gothic mystery set in England where an American comes to reclaim the crumbling mansion she's inherited and finds a bunch of secrets and a dead body. That sounds pretty formulaic, right? But the main character (Jo Jones) has a compelling voice and point of view. She's neurodiverse, so she processes information differently from the people she encounters, and her efforts to make herself understood and to make sense of the family secrets she's uncovering are distinctive and also illuminating. I can't speak for the accuracy of the depiction, but the author is on the spectrum, and there is nothing cartoonish about Jo's character.
It's also a good mystery with a strong set of characters. I listened to it on audio, and the narration was excellent. Overall, a satisfying read....more
This is an enjoyable cozy about writing mysteries. The protagonist is a mystery writer on a book tour where someone is being targeted. What elevates tThis is an enjoyable cozy about writing mysteries. The protagonist is a mystery writer on a book tour where someone is being targeted. What elevates the story about your average cozy is the wry meta-commentary from the protagonist about the craft of writing mysteries, the construction of this mystery in particular, and snide comments about the other characters. The narration for the audiobook is also very good.
Thanks to Minotaur, Macmillan, Netgalley, and Edelweiss for the review copies in exchange for an honest review....more
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