The Hidden Child

Title: The Hidden Child
Author: Louise Fein
Published: October 19th 2021 by William Morrow Paperbacks
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 480 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Sentence: July 1928. Mabel grips Eleanor’s arm tightly as they bowl fast along the country lane, Dilly’s hooves kicking dust into sultry July air.

Synopsis: Eleanor Hamilton is happily married and mother to a beautiful four-year-old girl, Mabel. Her wealthy husband, Edward, a celebrated war hero, is a leading light in the burgeoning Eugenics movement—the very ideas that will soon be embraced by Hitler—and is increasingly important in designing education policy for Great Britain.

But when Edward and Eleanor’s otherwise perfectly healthy daughter develops debilitating epileptic seizures, their world fractures. Mabel’s shameful illness must be hidden or Edward’s life’s work will be in jeopardy and the family’s honor will be shattered.

When Eleanor discovers Edward has been keeping secrets, she calls into question everything she believed about genetic inferiority, and her previous unshakeable faith in her husband disintegrates. Alarmed, distressed, and no longer able to bear the family’s burden, she takes matters into her own hands. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: This book took me a long time to get through. The subject of eugenics is so disgusting that I found myself alternating between being sickened, angry, and walking away. Yet, strangely, I think that is precisely what makes the Hidden Child an amazing read, one which everyone should experience. Though a work of fiction, the novel is based on facts, social mores, and wealthy influential leaders who do not want their lives upended by those deemed to be of lesser value.

Louise Fein weaves her history lesson through the lives of Eleanor Hamilton, her husband Edward, a leading researcher in the field, and their four-year-old daughter Mabel. Heartbreaking at its core, this novel takes the reader on a ride of epic proportion, and I doubt anyone will come away without being deeply moved.

Daughter of the Morning Star

Title: Daughter of the Morning Star
Author: Craig Johnson
Published: September 21st, 2021 by Viking
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Genre: Police Procedural
Series: Longmire #17

First Sentence: “Play me.” Sometimes I drive to the borders of my county and look for the end of the world and sometimes I see it, or I think I do, but maybe what I see is myself, and that’s enough to send me scurrying back the other way.

Synopsis: When Lolo Long's niece Jaya begins receiving death threats, Tribal Police Chief Long calls on Absaroka County Sheriff Walt Longmire along with Henry Standing Bear as lethal backup. Jaya Longshot Long is the phenom of the Lame Deer Lady Stars High School basketball team and is following in the steps of her older sister, who disappeared a year previously, a victim of the scourge of missing Native Women in Indian Country. Lolo hopes that having Longmire involved might draw some public attention to the girl's plight, but with this maneuver, she also inadvertently places the good sheriff in a one-on-one with the deadliest adversary he has ever faced in both this world and the next. (Goodreads)

My Opinion: I love the stories Craig Johnson tells. Some go deeper than others, but there is always history to learn and new people to meet. There is also humor, sometimes you don’t think you should be laughing, but you can’t help yourself.

This story might be a bit too woo-woo for some but stay with it. It will grab your heart, and you will feel yourself both questioning and cheering when it comes to Jaya Long and what she has had to endure, along with the stress of a town riding on her shoulders.

The Walt Longmire of the books is very different from the Walt in the Longmire series. I prefer the books and hope readers, which are new to Walt Longmire, will forget what they watched and hang on to what they read.

Spells and Scones

Title: Spells and Scones
Author: Bailey Cates
Published: July 26th 2016 by NAL
Format: Paperback, 293 pages
Genre: Cozy Paranormal
Series: Magical Bakery Mystery #6

First Sentence: “I can’t believe I actually get to see her!” Margie Coopersmith bounced on her chair with excitement.

Synopsis: When the bookshop next to the Honeybee Bakery hosts a signing for a Savannah radio celebrity's new self-help book, magical baker Katie Lightfoot is happy to provide some delectable desserts. A big crowd has turned out for the event, curious about the book (and maybe to sample some goodies), but the final chapter comes too soon for the author when she is found dead at the event.

The prime suspect is Angie Kissel, a former witch whose familiar was once Katie’s own terrier, Mungo. Katie is at first hesitant to help, afraid of losing the little dog who has become so important to her. But after a little nudge from Mungo himself, Katie decides to try to conjure up the real killer—before Angie gets served.

My Opinion: I still can’t explain why I keep coming back to this series, but there is a delightful camaraderie among the people and friends of the Honeybee Bakery in Savannah, Georgia. If you are looking for a book heavy in witchcraft, Spells and Scones is not it. But what you will find is a group of caring women imparting a little magic to ease their patrons' worries and to heal a broken heart or two. And if it’s a slow day, maybe catch a criminal or two.

The Mystery of Albert E. Finch

Title: The Mystery of Albert E. Finch
Author: Callie Hutton
Published: January 11th 2022 by Crooked Lane Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 336 pages
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Victorian Book Club Mystery #3

First Sentence: "I, Lady Amy Lovell, am a bride."

Synopsis: Bath, England, 1892. Celebrated mystery author Lady Amy Lovell is set to tie the knot with Lord William Wethington, a fellow member of the Mystery Book Club of Bath. Amy's great-aunt, Lady Priscilla Granville, has offered to host their wedding at her stately Derby Manor House. But on the eve of the ceremony, the festive air in the drawing room is marred by Mrs. Alice Finch's argument with her husband, Albert, in another room. The next morning at the wedding breakfast, Alice falls face-first into her breakfast—dead.

When Amy and William's favorite detectives are summoned to the house, they see two champagne glasses in front of Mrs. Finch and none in front of her husband. Did Albert give his wife a poisoned drink? Always looking for the easiest solution, the detectives charge Albert with the murder.

But Lady Amy is not convinced that Albert is guilty. There are too many things that don't add up. In the hopes of being able to leave Bath and begin their honeymoon, Amy and William once again take things into their own hands. Suspects begin to pop up, but nothing takes them more by surprise than the discovery of a second body.

Stuck in Bath until the whole poisonous predicament is solved, Amy and William are anxious to collar the perfidious poisoner and be on their way to their honeymoon. If they can't catch the killer, not only is their newlywed bliss under threat, but they may not live to see happily-ever-after at all.

My Opinion: Book 3 in the Victorian Book Club Mystery was a stumbling block for me. I read the first third, skimmed the middle part, and picked it up again near the end. The story was slow with too many ‘tis and ‘twould for my liking, and if tea were an addition, every character would need rehab. The who-done-it part had an interesting twist, but Callie Hutton had taken way too long to get there.

Not sure this is a series I would consider continuing. I enjoyed the first book, A Study in Murder, wished there was more banter between Amy and William in A Sign of Death, and book three was on the dull side.

Endangered Species

Title: Endangered Species
Author: Nevada Barr
Published: May 1st 1998 by Avon
Format: Paperback, 400 pages
Genre: Mystery
Series: Anna Pigeon #5

First Sentence: Black and Blood-warm water slammed into Anna’s back, rushing over her shoulders and down the front of her shirt.

Synopsis: In the midst of a dangerously dry season, national park ranger Anna Pigeon has been posted to Cumberland Island off the Georgia coast for a monotonous, twenty-one day fire watch. But her boredom is short-lived, for this remote and marshy place is breeding ground for more than just the imperiled Loggerhead turtle; it also spawns eccentricity and secrets, greed, suspicion. . .and murder.A small plane crashes into the palmetto thickets nearby. Anna and her crew arrive in time to control the blaze, but too late to save pilot and his passenger, Cumberland's sole law enforcement ranger. When the cause of the "accident" is determined to be sabotage, Anna becomes entangled in an investigation that threatens to upset the very delicate balance of this fragile ecological preserve. For she is precariously close to exposing dark, clandestine crimes both old and new that someone has worked very diligently to conceal. . .and which make Anna Pigeon the most endangered creature on the island.

My Opinion: I know that I have gotten to this series late, but in the 13 years since it was published, I don’t think it has held the test of time, and therefore, not one of my favorites.

I do adore Anna Pigeon though she comes across as a universal Wonder Woman who happens to have the right skills at the right time, no matter which issue or which National Park she finds herself in. As a series, there are very few recurring characters. The reader will need to learn new people with each book, but thankfully, the tried-and-true friends and family pop up occasionally. Thank you, Molly.

There is no doubt I will continue, but like other series, there will always be a book that lands like a dud only to be followed by my next favorite, and that is what I hope will happen with Blind Descent.

Honey Roasted

Title: Honey Roasted
Author: Cleo Coyle
Published: January 25th 2022 by Berkley
Format: Kindle, Hardcover 368 pages
Genre: Foodie Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Coffeehouse Mystery #19

First Sentence: "Well, what do we have here?" Matt Allegro spied the colorful brochures I'd been frowning over.

Synopsis: While struggling to find a romantic (and affordable) destination for her upcoming honeymoon, coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi whips up a honey of a drink made from honey-processed coffee. Clare plans to serve her outstanding new Honey-Cinnamon Latte at her spring wedding to her longtime honey, NYPD Detective Mike Quinn. The culinary world is also abuzz about the amazing honey that Clare was lucky enough to source for her shop's new latte. Produced by Madame's old friend Queen Bea Hastings, the rare, prize-winning nectar from Bea's rooftop hives commands a premium price, and top chefs compete for a chance to use it in their signature seasonal dishes.

One night, a swarm of escaped bees blanket the Village Blend's chimney, and Clare discovers Bea's unconscious body after she seemingly fell from her high-rise rooftop-hive setup. The police want to rule it as a tragic accident or possible attempted suicide. But Clare doesn't believe either theory. Like Madame, she knows this Queen would never abandon her hive. To sort out this mystery, Clare investigates a world of cutthroat chefs, culinary startups, and competitive urban beekeepers. But can she uncover the truth without getting stung?

My Opinion: Whereas the previous book, Brewed Awakening, came across as two authors in need of marriage counseling, Honey Roasted imparts the shared knowledge of two who are working on their relationship and conveys the insight a therapist used to help them through their bumpy parts.

Not being a coffee aficionado, I always learn something from the coffeehouse series when it comes to the depth of the bean – the regions, the types, and the techniques, and I do appreciate the research the writing team puts into their work.

When it comes to the mystery, there is always a twist, something which was there but not obvious and kept me wondering. As for the side characters, I do hope Nancy has found her person and that we will see more of him, but one thing is for sure, honey coffee might be part of my next coffee order.

The Maid

Title: The Maid
Author: Nita Prose
Published: January 4th 2022 by Ballantine Books
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 304 pages
Genre: Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

First Sentence: Prologue. I am your maid. I'm the one who cleans your hotel room, who enters like a phantom when you're out gallivanting for the day, no care at all about what you've left behind, the mess, or what I might see when you're gone.

Synopsis: Molly Gray is not like everyone else. She struggles with social skills and misreads the intentions of others. Her gran used to interpret the world for her, codifying it into simple rules that Molly could live by.

Since Gran died a few months ago, twenty-five-year-old Molly has been navigating life’s complexities all by herself. No matter—she throws herself with gusto into her work as a hotel maid. Her unique character, along with her obsessive love of cleaning and proper etiquette, make her an ideal fit for the job. She delights in donning her crisp uniform each morning, stocking her cart with miniature soaps and bottles, and returning guest rooms at the Regency Grand Hotel to a state of perfection.

But Molly’s orderly life is upended the day she enters the suite of the infamous and wealthy Charles Black, only to find it in a state of disarray and Mr. Black himself dead in his bed. Before she knows what’s happening, Molly’s unusual demeanor has the police targeting her as their lead suspect. She quickly finds herself caught in a web of deception, one she has no idea how to untangle. Fortunately for Molly, friends she never knew she had unite with her in a search for clues to what really happened to Mr. Black—but will they be able to find the real killer before it’s too late?

A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.(Goodreads)

My Opinion: One of my favorite books of this year.

Molly, a proud hotel maid somewhere on the autism spectrum, is precise with her words and actions, and was raised by her grandmother. Gran was a woman with a couple of secrets of her own; and who shares quirky saying and cleaning tips with her granddaughter. The two have lived a quiet life of cleaning routines and Columbo reruns which suited them just fine. As Molly's sole source of understanding the legal system, the reruns come in handy now that Molly finds herself in the middle of a conundrum when she discovered the body of a wealthy guest and has become the leading suspect in his murder.

Nita Prose has woven a charming tale of a young woman who does not quite fit into any of the worlds she is part of. She wants to be accepted, she wants a boyfriend, she wants her grandmother, and she wants answers. Unfortunately, it will be up to Molly, without the person she has trusted most, to traverse the obstacles which are determined to overwhelm her.

You cannot walk away from this book without feeling a loss. Through Nita Prose, Molly has gotten under your skin, and you want to hang around a little bit longer to make sure that she will be alright. Hoping the path will smooth out and making sure that she has finally found the family she has been looking for.

Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door

Title: Jane Darrowfield and the Madwoman Next Door
Author: Barbara Ross
Published: December 28, 2021, by Kensington
Format: Kindle, 280 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Jane Darrowfield #2

First Sentence: The discreet sign at the end of her garden walk read Jane Darrowfield, Professional Busybody.

Synopsis: Jane Darrowfield is using her retirement years to work as a professional busybody, with most of her business coming from her West Cambridge, Massachusetts, community. This time her client is right next door.

Megan, who's purchased the house next to Jane's, needs some help from her snooping neighbor. Megan's been having blackouts, hearing voices—and feeling like someone's following her. Are these symptoms of an illness—or signs that she's in danger?

Considering the extensive security system in Megan's house, it seems like she should be safe—yet she soon vanishes into thin air. Some think she's run away, but would this ambitious young lawyer on the partner track really miss a meeting with an important client? And where's Megan's cat?

The mystery is about to deepen when the cat is finally located in a hidden panic room—and as Jane and the police look into Megan's friends, family, and past, it may be time to sound the alarm.

My Opinion: There is something about a mature professional busybody which drew me in from the first pages. No silly bouncing curls, detective boyfriend, or a quaint business that seems to run on its own without the owner's insight.

When it came down to the plotting in this book, it was like playing a game of throwing everyone into the pot and then taking them out and then adding them back in until there were only two left. Little did I know there would be more to it than a simple guessing game.

For anyone looking for a soft-boiled mystery, which is a little more than cozy and a little less than hard-boiled, I would highly recommend the Darrowfield series.

Murder on the Pier

Title: Murder on the Pier
Author: Merryn Allingham
Published: November 10, 2021 by Bookouture
Format: Kindle, 201 Pages
Genre: Soft-Boiled Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Flora Steele Mystery #2

First Sentence: Flora Steele stood gazing at the buffet table, admiring its plentiful display but longing to be elsewhere.

Synopsis: Sussex, 1955: When bookshop owner Flora Steele goes for a walk along the pier she isn’t expecting to spot a young woman’s body in the stormy waters below. And she’s shocked to discover the victim is someone she knows…

Convinced the death was not an accident, Flora persuades attractive local crime writer Jack Carrington to help her find out what really happened to poor Polly Dakers, a popular young woman with a complicated love life, who’d been at the heart of village life in Abbeymead.

Jack is reluctant to get involved in another murder case at first but even he can’t deny that Polly’s fall seems fishy. An argument at a party, a missed hairdresser’s appointment and a red woolen bobble found on the wooden boards where Polly last stood provide a trail of clues…

As they grow closer to solving the puzzling mystery, the unlikely pair stumble upon several surprising secrets about those closest to Polly. A number of potential suspects begin to emerge. But who really disliked Polly enough to kill her? Was it Raymond, her jilted first love? Harry, her latest beau? Or Evelyn, Harry’s jealous estranged wife?

As the investigation brings them closer to the truth, Flora is intent on unmasking the killer – but will her stealthy sleuthing lead her down a dangerous path? (Goodreads)

My Opinion: The first book in this series, the Bookshop Murder, was only a so-so read for me, but I decided to give Murder on the Pier a try. That was a mistake. The plotting is excruciatingly slow, the dialogue is stilted, and the main characters are monotonous. This is where Merryn Allingham and I will part ways.