The Man in Black: Stories

Title: The Man in Black: Stories
Author: Elly Griffiths
Published: October 15, 2024 by Mariner Books
Format: Kindle, 320 Pages
Genre: Fiction / Short Stories
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Blurb: Elly Griffiths has always written short stories to experiment with different voices and genres as well as to explore what some of her fictional creations such as Ruth Galloway, Harbinder Kaur, and Max Mephisto might have done outside of the novels. The Man in Black gathers these bite-sized tales all together in one splendid volume.

There are ghost stories, cozy mysteries, tales of psychological suspense, and poignant vignettes of love and loss.

In the title story, Ruth Galloway crosses paths with a mysterious man in a bookstore, setting in motion a rescue mission that hinges on the legends and lore of Norfolk.

Looking into the past, a young magician in 1920s Leeds wonders just what happened to his missing landlady in Max Mephisto and the Disappearing Act.

In Justice Jones and the Etherphone, a witty girl detective investigates the dire prediction of a fortune teller in dreary postwar London.

A flashback in time reveals Harbinder Kaur as a Detective Sergeant surviving her first day on the job at Shoreham DCI.

To celebrate the holidays, Ruth gets her very first Christmas tree, and her beloved cat narrates his own seasonal story in Flint’s Fireside Tale.

And readers can armchair travel with stories set on the Amalfi Coast, in Capri, and in Egypt as Ruth and DCI Nelson experience their very own version of Death on the Nile.

The Man in Black illustrates the breadth and variety of Elly Griffiths’s talent for blood-chilling, page-turning stories all with her trademark humor and heart.

My Opinion: A collection of short stories that bring together beloved characters like Ruth Galloway, Harbinder Kaur, and even Max Mephisto. Though I'm typically not a fan of short stories, Elly Griffiths' name guarantees I'll be following along to see what my favorite characters are up to.

The anthology features other short stories that showcase Griffiths' talent for creating captivating atmospheres and developed characters with just enough storytelling to let the reader's imagination roam. These glimpses make one wonder if we'll encounter these new characters or situations in her upcoming novels.

Anthologies, in general, aren't meant to be read in one go. Instead, I treat them as refreshing pauses between lengthier books or keep them on my desk for a quick escape when I need a brief break.

Overall, The Man in Black provides an engaging blend of familiar faces and new stories, making it a perfect addition to any Elly Griffiths fan's collection.

More or Less Maddy

Title: More or Less Maddy
Author: Lisa Genova
Published: January 14, 2025, by Gallery/Scout Press
Format: Kindle, 368 Pages
Genre: Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Blurb: Maddy Banks is just like any other stressed-out freshman at NYU. Between schoolwork, exams, navigating life in the city, and a recent breakup, it’s normal to be feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t help that she’s always felt like the odd one out in her picture-perfect Connecticut family. But Maddy’s latest low is devastatingly low, and she goes on an antidepressant. She begins to feel good, dazzling in fact, and she soon spirals high into a wild and terrifying mania that culminates in a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

As she struggles to find her way in this new reality, navigating the complex effects bipolar has on her identity, her relationships, and her life dreams, Maddy will have to figure out how to manage being both too much and not enough.

My Opinion: The book starts with a manic tone that Lisa Genova aimed to create. She wants us inside Maddy’s head. Maddy is out of control. Chapter 2 takes the reader 18 months prior so we can see what got us to where we first met Maddy in a Las Vegas hotel room. Then progress through the highs and lows with Maddy and her family. There are tidbits of what brought on the diagnosis, but as the author relates, there could be many reasons.

Genova, with her professional background, takes the reader on both a fictionalized, as well as a medical journey. What is most disheartening is that medical professionals still don’t know how to treat this disorder and they still don’t know how most of the drugs that are prescribed work since research has shown that antidepressants are no more effective than placebos in treating depression. As long as the placebo has an active component, something that will give you a headache or an upset stomach, it will trick your body into thinking it must be good for you. Yet, they continue to throw medications at those fighting for their mental health, but it appears to only be “just throwing spaghetti at the wall and calling what sticks medicine.” Medical Science is a fascinating thing.

In the author’s notes, she displays how this book can educate, humanize, demystify, destigmatize, and engender empathy. And I wholeheartedly agree since this book shines a light on a disorder with onset typically occurring in the later teen and early twenties, that affects 6 million people, slightly more than those that are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and is the sixth leading cause of disability worldwide and is the tenth leading cause of death in the US, all while hiding in plain sight.

On its own, Maddy's story is fascinating but the research and education that Lisa Genova has shared is invaluable.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley

Title: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley
Author: Courtney Walsh
Published: June 13, 2023 by Thomas Nelson
Format: Paperback, 358 Pages
Genre: Romance

First Sentence: Isadora Bentley is shopping for her final meal. If I were a character in a novel, this is what the author would write.

Blurb: Isadora Bentley follows the rules. Isadora Bentley likes things just so. Isadora Bentley believes that happiness is something that flat-out doesn’t exist in her life—and never will.

As a university researcher, Isadora keeps to herself as much as possible. She avoids the students she’s supposed to befriend and mentor. She stays away from her neighbors and lives her own quiet, organized life in her own quiet, organized apartment. And she will never get involved in a romantic relationship again—especially with another academic. It will be just Isadora and her research. Forever.

But on her thirtieth birthday, Isadora does something completely out of character. The young woman who never does anything “on a whim” makes an impulse purchase of a magazine featuring a silly article detailing “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy”—which includes everything from smiling at strangers to exercising for endorphins to giving in to your chocolate cravings. Isadora decides to create her own secret research project—proving the writer of the ridiculous piece wrong.

As Isadora gets deeper into her research—and meets a handsome professor along the way—she’s stunned to discover that maybe, just maybe, she’s proving herself wrong. Perhaps there’s actually something to this happiness concept, and possibly there’s something to be said for loosening up and letting life take you somewhere . . . happy.

My Opinion: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh is a charming exploration of finding happiness against all odds. Thirty-year-old Isadora Bentley, socially awkward and reeling from a disastrous relationship, drifts through a featureless life. On a whim, she picks up a magazine featuring an article titled "Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy." As a researcher, she can't resist testing these ways, determined to prove the author wrong about the very existence of happiness.

Isadora's solitary existence is about to change dramatically. Yet, stepping out of her comfort zone leads to transformative experiences. The highlight of her journey is meeting with a handsome work colleague and allowing herself to open up to people along the way. Maybe this article might be onto something. But just as she begins to feel hopeful, her world unravels.

Despite the setbacks, Isadora finds herself surrounded by unexpected allies. A ten-year-old girl grappling with her own heartache offers wisdom beyond her years, while others rally to support Isadora in her fight for happiness.

This romantic tale is filled with poignant moments and humorous insights, illustrating that even in the face of adversity, love and friendship can lead to a truly happy life.

Holmes is Missing

Title: Holmes is Missing
Author: James Patterson, Brian Sitts
Published: January 6, 2025 by Little, Brown and Company
Format: Kindle, 352 Pages
Genre: Thriller
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Holmes, Margaret & Poe #2

Blurb: It’s their toughest case yet. And their best detective is missing. Holmes, Margaret and Poe run the private detective agency that solves the crimes no one else can. Or they did – until Holmes said he wanted to leave the business and fell off the radar. In New York City, they are called to investigate the abduction of six newborns from a private hospital. Without Holmes, they try to investigate this terrible crime. They hear word of more missing babies in London, and Margaret follows the trail across the pond. But they need Holmes. To solve the crime of the century, first they must save their friend.(GoodReads)

My Opinion: Holmes is Missing by James Patterson and Brian Sitts is a whirlwind of a novel that keeps readers on their toes. The authors are not shy about dropping names and taking the story in unexpected directions, making for a reading experience that's all over the place, but in a compelling way.

Patterson and his co-authors can be hit or miss for me. Some series captivate me, despite occasionally showing signs of the authors' boredom, while others are one-and-done. I enjoyed the first book in this series and was curious if the sequel would maintain that energy. To my delight, it did not disappoint. Although there were moments where the pace lagged, the authors consistently introduced new elements that pulled me back into the complex web of storylines.

The novel is packed with a variety of intense themes: child abductions, addiction, xenophobia, abandonment, a serial killer, psychological taunting, new romance, and family dynamics. It's all here, creating a tapestry of intrigue and suspense. When you think you have a handle on where the story is going, Patterson and Sitts throw another curveball, and the last words of the book reveal that this writing duo is far from finished. The cat-and-mouse game they've set up promises more excitement in the future.

Overall, Holmes is Missing is an unpredictable and gripping sequel that left me eager for more. The varied plotlines and rich themes make it a compelling read, and I'm excited to see where the story goes next.