The Thirteenth Husband

Title: The Thirteenth Husband
Author: Greer Macallister
Published: August 6, 2024 by Sourcebooks Landmark
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 336 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Blurb: Tearing through millions of dollars, four continents, and a hearty collection of husbands, real-life heiress Aimee Crocker blazed an unbelievable trail of public notoriety, private pain, and the kind of strong independent woman the 1880s had never seen. Her life was stranger than fiction and brighter than the stars, and she whirled through her days as if she was being chased by something larger than herself. Greer Macallister brilliantly takes us into her world and spins a tale that you won't soon forget.

My Opinion: This novel has polarized its readers, and it's easy to see why. The protagonist, Aimee Crocker, isn’t exactly a paragon of likability. Macallister’s adaptation of Crocker's memoir often leaves readers perplexed when deciphering how much of this larger-than-life character has been embellished.

The enigmatic women in white who appear throughout Aimee's story add a layer of mystery and curiosity. The explanation at the end, while bordering on the fantastical, oddly fits the overall narrative.

What starts with captivating pacing devolves into a sluggish meander. I found myself skimming through redundant sections. Aimee’s multiple marriages—some of which were not actual marriages—are woven through the narrative, creating another facet of this self-absorbed woman.

While I did enjoy some of the elements of the book, it ultimately did not measure up to Macallister's previous work, The Arctic Fury. The promise of a gripping and complex story remains largely unfulfilled, leaving readers with a sense of what could have been.

Murder at the Lemonberry Tea

Title: Murder at the Lemonberry Tea
Author: Darci Hannah
Published: November 26, 2024, by Kensington Cozies
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 368 Pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Beacon Bakeshop #6

Blurb: Lindsey’s patrons have a new outdoor patio where they can eat their treats in the glorious summer weather. But even more exciting is that the Beacon Bakeshop is going to host British celebrity chef Vivi Lemonberry—and what could be a more appropriate event than a tea party? What Lindsey didn’t realize is that Vivi is here to put some distance between herself and her recent professional and personal scandals. Despite assurances that Vivi is as sweet as a chocolate-dipped strawberry, Lindsey is cooling rapidly toward the culinary icon . . . especially after she banishes Lindsey’s beloved dog, Wellington, from the bakeshop and then flirts outrageously with Lindsey’s boyfriend. She’s not the only one feeling hostile, though. While Vivi’s in the middle of making a tart in front of the cameras, a woman runs up and slaps her. Soon, Vivi’s nowhere to be found, and folks are speculating on whether she’s run off with her secret lover or just laying low due to embarrassment. That is, until Lindsey finds a body bobbing near the surface of Lake Michigan. It’s a sour ending for the diva, but Lindsey is determined to squeeze the truth out of every clue until she finds the killer.

My Opinion: In “Murder at the Lemonberry Tea,” Darci Hannah delivers another installment in the series that typically enchants readers with its charm and wit. However, this latest entry fell short for me. I found myself navigating a maze of names. For longtime fans who’ve been on this journey from the start, these names will ring familiar, but new readers will likely find the deluge of characters daunting and challenging to follow.

There is a significant amount of redundancy. Names, places, and situations are repeated so often I started skimming. In some sections, it felt as if the story looped rather than progressed. Moreover, the use of superlatives seemed excessive and lost their impact.

One redeeming feature is the mention of confections, which come with recipes at the end. While this is a sweet touch that adds a unique flavor to the book, it wasn’t enough to offset the frustration felt with the story’s structure and pacing.

Ultimately, I am undecided about whether to continue with this series. The next book, yet to be announced, will be the tipping point in my decision-making. Here’s hoping it rekindles the charm that initially drew me in.

The Queens of Crime

Title: The Queens of Crime
Author: Marie Benedict
Expected Publication: February 11, 2025
Format: Kindle, Hardcover, 320 Pages
Genre: Historical Mystery
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Blurb: London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second-class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment.

May Daniels, a young English nurse on an excursion to France with her friend, seemed to vanish into thin air as they prepared to board a ferry home. Months later, her body is found in the nearby woods. The murder has all the hallmarks of a locked room mystery for which these authors are famous: how did her killer manage to sneak her body out of a crowded train station without anyone noticing? If, as the police believe, the cause of death is manual strangulation, why is there is an extraordinary amount of blood at the crime scene? What is the meaning of a heartbreaking secret letter seeming to implicate an unnamed paramour? Determined to solve the highly publicized murder, the Queens of Crime embark on their own investigation, discovering they’re stronger together. But soon the killer targets Dorothy Sayers herself, threatening to expose a dark secret in her past that she would do anything to keep hidden.

My Opinion: In the world of Queens of Crime, the real magic is not in the details of murder, but in the camaraderie and intellect of the women who investigate it. Imagine five of the greatest female mystery writers of all time—Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Baroness Emma Orczy, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham—coming together to form a detection club.

Benedict assembles these literary titans, each renowned for their unparalleled knack in weaving intricate tales of suspense and intrigue. Faced with the condescension of their male counterparts and the dismissive gaze of the publishing world, these queens decide to demonstrate that their prowess is not confined to the realm of fiction.

They employ strategies to resolve a real-life case that law enforcement has dismissed as trivial. But make no mistake, the true heart of this story is in the shared insights and methodologies these authors borrowed directly from their own novels. Watching them piece together clues—discarding red herrings—is a delight, far surpassing the importance of the actual crime at hand.

For me, the narrative thrives in the collaboration, where these minds meld and clash in the creation of their deductions. Each woman brings her unique genius, and as they unravel the mystery, they also elevate their craft.

In essence, Queens of Crime isn't just a murder mystery; it’s a celebration of the art of deduction, the strength of female intellect, and the enduring power of storytelling.

An Excellent Thing in a Woman

Title: An Excellent Thing in a Woman
Author: Allison Montclair
Expected Publication Date: February 4, 2025, by Severn House
Format: Kindle, 224 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery #7

Blurb: London, 1947. Spirited Miss Iris Sparks and ever-practical Mrs Gwendolyn Bainbridge are called to action when Gwen's beau Salvatore 'Sally' Danielli is accused of murder!

Sally has taken a job at the BBC studios at Alexandra Palace, but when the beautiful Miss JeanneMarie Duplessis - one of the Parisian performers over for a new variety show - is found dead in the old theatre, a number of inconvenient coincidences make him Suspect

Just days earlier, Miss Duplessis had arrived at The Right Sort, desperately looking for a husband - any husband - to avoid having to return to Paris. As the plot thickens, Iris is pulled back into the clandestine circles she moved in during the war and it soon becomes apparent that to clear Sally's name, she and Gwen would need to go on the hunt for a killer once more.

My Opinion: This was a DNF for me. I threw in the towel at the 33% mark. The novel kicks off with a brief recap that feels a bit like “If you didn't read Murder at the White Palace, good luck catching up,” followed by a quick dive into the current happenings with Gwen and Sparks. Sadly, the narrative is derailed by numerous tangents that detract from the central characters and, quite frankly, bore the reader.

These distractions continue until, finally, a body makes an appearance. By then, it's too little, too late. This is where I decided to put the book down.

What started as a promising series has now found its way to my “that was fun while it lasted, but I won’t be reading any more from this author” shelf. The initial spark that made the series engaging seems to have fizzled out, replaced by unfocused storytelling and an overload of irrelevant details. If the aim was to keep readers hooked, it missed the mark by a long shot.

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.

Schemes & Scandals

Title: Schemes & Scandals
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Published: December 3, 2024 by Subterranean Press
Format: Kindle, 176 Pages
Genre: Time Travel
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: A Rip Through Time #3.5

First Sentence: On the first of December, I walk into the town house library and announce, “I believe it’s time to discuss Christmas.”

Blurb: It’s Mallory Atkinson’s first Christmas in Scotland. Victorian Scotland, that is. Also, as the twenty-first-century detective learns, Christmas really isn’t a thing in Victorian Scotland. It’s all about Hogmanay. But her boss, Dr. Duncan Gray, treats her to an early gift of tickets to the event of the season: a Charles Dickens reading. There, they bump into Lady Inglis—the lovely widow who has sent Gray sexy letters trying to entice him back to her bed.

Lady Inglis introduces Mallory to Dickens—the meeting of a lifetime—but in return she wants their help. She’s being blackmailed. Someone stole letters she wrote to another lover and is threatening to publish them.

Mallory isn’t sure what to make of Lady Inglis, but no woman deserves that, so she insists on taking the case with or without Gray’s help. Growing tension between them soon tells Mallory that Gray is hiding a secret of his own. She has until Hogmanay to uncover the blackmailer…and, hopefully, to put things right with Gray so they can enjoy the holiday together.

My Opinion: For a novella, Schemes & Scandals by Kelley Armstrong is unexpectedly wordy and, at times, feels like it's dragging. A tighter edit could have transformed this novella into a more compelling short story.

Mallory Atkinson finds herself spending her first Christmas in Scotland, grappling with the unfamiliar customs of the time. But adapting is key when you're inhabiting another person’s body and centuries out of your comfort zone. The only bright spot in her holiday is an unexpected encounter with Charles Dickens, who reads his works and adds a touch of literary magic to her experience.

When a friend of Dr. Gray’s arrives with a salacious problem, Mallory seizes the opportunity to put her 21st-century investigative skills to the test. This novella, part of Armstrong's time travel series, requires readers to embrace the convenient plot devices and the notion that people living in the Victorian era would so easily accept a woman claiming to be a time traveler and rarely question the uses of unfamiliar words and science. The humor woven through the narrative helps make these leaps of faith more palatable.

While the story could benefit from a more concise approach, Schemes & Scandals offers intriguing elements that keep the reader engaged, especially with the unique blend of time travel and historical fiction.

Blood of Hercules

Title: Blood of Hercules
Author: Jasmine Mas
Published: August 1, 2024, by Jasmine Mas
Format: Paperback, 512 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Villains of Lore #1

First Sentence: Chapter 1 Serpent Alexis: Year 2090. “Who are you?” a female voice whispered in my ear. I sat up with a start and blinked groggily.

Blurb: I'm struggling to survive in a Titan infested world where Spartans, immortals from twelve royal families who have god-like powers and obscene wealth, rule over all. A shy-stammering foster child with nothing, I keep my head down, cover my scars, and focus on excelling in school. At least, I try to. Then it happens.

My blood test reveals I'm part of the powerful elite. I'm one of them. A Spartan.

Forced to attend the Spartan War Academy, I undergo the most harrowing test of all time to see if I have what it takes to be an immortal. There's just a few problems. Achilles and Patro are my scary mentors. Kharon, the ferryman of death, and Augustus, the son of war, are my terrifying professors. Also, I'm pretty sure either someone's stalking me everywhere I go, or my sanity's slipping––I have a bad feeling both are true.

I'm surrounded by Villains and they're smothering me with their hate, obsession, and dark possessiveness. Too bad for them, they have no clue just who they're messing with. (GoodReads)

My Opinion: Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas is a retelling that takes considerable liberties, playing on preconceptions and delivering an intense narrative that leaves the reader both mystified and fascinated. The story is set in the age of gods and monsters, beginning in 2090, forty years after the arrival of the Titan problem. Alexis Hert, living in abysmal conditions in rural Montana, is first introduced at the age of ten, abandoned as an infant with a scar across her sternum. Fast forward a few chapters, and she’s nineteen, embarking on the Spartan test that catapults her into a parallel world, changing her life forever.

Alexis is a unique character—a female mutt abandoned but somehow qualified for the crucible. She initially cannot stand to be touched but eventually warms up to it, despite being treated as prey. As the story unfolds, Alexis discovers powers she didn’t know she possessed. There’s a reverse harem dynamic involving the Crimson Duo and her mentors Patros and Achilles, all of whom have their own intriguing subplots.

The first 100 pages of the book are slow, reminiscent of a young adult fantasy. However, the pace picks up in the middle with enemies aligning and humor woven into the narrative. The ending, though, is where the book truly transforms, diving into adult themes with twist after twist, keeping the reader on their toes.

As the anticipation builds for book two, Bonds of Hercules, coming in the fall of 2025, the unpredictable nature of Alexis's journey leaves one guessing what could possibly happen next. This novel that will have your head spinning with its themes, analogies, science, philosophy, and hard truths.