Month: October 2023

Books About Books, Cozy, Mystery

Twelve Books of Christmas by Kate Carlisle

Patricia McDonald Uttaro

Description

San Francisco book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright and her hunky security-expert husband, Derek Stone, face a locked-room murder mystery during the holidays in Scotland.

In the middle of a wonderful Christmas holiday in Dharma, Brooklyn and Derek receive a frantic phone call from their dear friend Claire in Loch Ness, Scotland. The laird of the castle, Cameron MacKinnon, has just proposed to her! They plan to be married on New Year’s Day, and they want Derek and Brooklyn to be their witnesses. And while they’re visiting, Claire hopes that Brooklyn will be able to solve a little mystery that’s occurred in the castle library—twelve very rare, very important books have gone missing.

Once in Scotland, Brooklyn starts working on the mystery of the missing books but is soon distracted by all of the thumping and bumping noises she’s been hearing in the middle of the night. You’d think the Ghost of Christmas Past had taken up residence. But when one of the guests is poisoned and another is killed by an arrow through the heart, Brooklyn and Derek know this is not the work of any ghost. Now they must race to find a killer and a book thief before another murder occurs and their friends’ bright and happy future turns dark and deadly.

My Thoughts

This series is like taking as vacation with old friends. I’ve been reading the Bibliophile mysteries from the start and still eagerly await each new entry. I can’t say that for many cozy series, and this one made me stop and think a bit about why this series is different.

Partly (and maybe above all) Carlisle is a top-notch writer. She has a mastery of words and description, is excellent at character development and planning (HOW does she keep Brooklyn’s family straight?!?), and plots a clever, clever mystery every time. I also don’t see her re-using bits of dialog and narrative description the way some other authors do. As a reader, I feel like she, as the author, has really spent time and attention on every detail, and I truly appreciate that.

Readers new to the series might want to go back and read them in order, but it’s not entirely necessary. You can read this one and still have a solid grasp of what’s going on.

As usual, I’m recommending this.

Publication Date: October 24, 2023
Published By: Berkley Publishing Group
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy

Mystery, Suspense

Sanctuary Motel by Alan Orloff

Patricia McDonald Uttaro

Description

Mess Hopkins, proprietor of the seen-better-days Fairfax Manor Inn, never met a person in need who couldn’t use a helping hand—his helping hand. So he’s thrown open the doors of the motel to the homeless, victims of abuse, or anyone else who could benefit from a comfy bed with clean sheets and a roof overhead. This rankles his parents and uncle, who technically still own the place and are more concerned with profits than philanthropy.

When a mother and her teenage boy seek refuge from an abusive husband, Mess takes them in until they can get back on their feet. Shortly after arriving, the mom goes missing and some very bad people come sniffing around, searching for some money they claim belongs to them. Mess tries to pump the boy for helpful information, but he’s in full uncooperative teen mode—grunts, shrugs, and monosyllabic answers. From what he does learn, Mess can tell he’s not getting the straight scoop. It’s not long before the boy vanishes too. Abducted? Run away? Something worse? And who took the missing money? Mess, along with his friend Vell Jackson and local news reporter Lia Katsaros, take to the streets to locate the missing mother and son—and the elusive, abusive husband—before the kneecapping loansharks find them first. 

My Thoughts

If you like your mysteries somewhere between cozy and and intense, this one could be for you. Orloff has delivered a solid contemporary mystery featuring a charismatic protagonist, Mess, who sort-of runs a hotel where he provides affordable space for people who are in trouble and need a hand getting back on their feet. This often means that Mess finds himself in the middle of some dangerous situations, such as the one that erupts after he provides a room for Nicole & Kevin, who are running from a bad marriage. At least that is what Mess initially understands. The story really kicks in when Nicole disappears and Mess finds himself with a smart-aleck teen who is endlessly hungry and feeling abandoned.

Mess, his friend Vell and new love interest Lia take on the job of trying to find Nicole, and find themselves in a much bigger, deeper, and uglier mess than an abusive husband.

Orloff writes with an easy elegance, pairing witty dialog with likable (or detestable) characters and good descriptive narrative. The setting in the motel reminded me a little of a recent book that I loved – KILLING ME by Michelle Gagnon – but Orloff’s “sanctuary motel” is much more. I got a little bit of an Elvis Cole vibe as well, which is always a good thing. Fans of gritty, contemporary, cool mysteries will thoroughly enjoy this one.

Publication Date: October 24, 29023
Published By: Level Best Books
Thanks to the Author and Netgalley for the review copy

Children's, Fantasy, Magical, Middle Grade, Mystery, Quest

Hollowthorn by Kalyn Josephson

Patricia McDonald Uttaro

Description

In this spellbinding sequel to Ravenfall, two kids with supernatural powers must venture beyond the veil to protect the Tree of Life from a terrifying foe—or risk losing the magic of Ravenfall forever.

Best friends Anna and Colin defeated the King of the Dead on Halloween night, saving the magical Ravenfall Inn they call home. Now, with Hannukah approaching, the kids are looking forward to exploring their new powers—and maybe enjoying a little challah and peppermint cocoa, too.

But then a Raven—a guardian of the supernatural world—shows up at their doorstep with a warning. A demon from Jewish lore is hunting the Tree of Life, a source of untold power and immortality. If they can’t stop him, they risk losing the magic of Ravenfall forever.

As they venture into the Otherworld, Anna and Colin discover a wondrous, menacing realm full of mythological creatures… but is the true danger closer than they think?

My Thoughts

Adding to the rich catalog of middle grade fantasy and mythology books out there, Hollowthorn offers wild ride of an adventure featuring some charming and powerful kids. Second in a series, this story continues the adventures of Anna and Colin as they race to save the Tree of Life (and the world) from certain destruction by a fearsome demon.

The relationship between Anna & Colin is further refined here, developing into a strong bond that will appeal to young readers struggling to understand deep friendships. The Jewish mythological aspect of the story is fascinating and provides great insight to this rich and ancient culture.

Fantasy readers will scoop this up this fall.

Recommended.

Publication Date: October 17, 2023
Published By: Random House Children’s, Delacorte Press
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy

Food & Drink, Historical

The Lost Supper by Taras Grescoe

Patricia McDonald Uttaro

Description

In the tradition of Michael Pollan, Anthony Bourdain, and Mark Bittman, an exciting and globe-trotting account of ancient cuisines—from Neolithic wines to ancient Roman fish sauce—and why reviving the foods of the past is the key to saving the future.

Many of us are worried (or at least we should be) about the impacts of globalization, pollution, and biotechnology on our diets. Whether it’s monoculture crops, hormone-fed beef, or high-fructose corn syrup, industrially-produced foods have troubling consequences for us and the planet. But as culinary diversity diminishes, many people are looking to a surprising place to safeguard the future: into the past.

The Lost Supper explores an idea that is quickly spreading among restaurateurs, food producers, scientists, and gastronomes around the world: that the key to healthy and sustainable eating lies not in looking forward, but in looking back to the foods that have sustained us through our half-million-year existence as a species. 

Acclaimed author Taras Grescoe introduces readers to the surprising and forgotten flavors whose revival is captivating food-lovers around the world: ancient sourdough bread last baked by Egyptian pharaohs; raw-milk farmhouse cheese from critically endangered British dairy cattle; ham from Spanish pata negra pigs that have been foraging on acorns on a secluded island since before the United States was a nation; and Neolithic wines from long-lost grapes uniquely capable of resisting quickly-evolving pests and modern pathogens.

From Ancient Roman fish sauce to Aztec caviar to the long-thought-extinct silphium, The Lost Supper is a deep dive into the latest frontier of global gastronomy—the archaeology of taste. Through vivid writing, history, and first-hand culinary experience, Grescoe sets out a provocative case: in order to save these foods, he argues, we’ve got to eat them.

Published in partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.

My Thoughts

Aimed at serious foodies and food historians, Grescoe’s work made me cringe, do some research, and share interesting bits with everyone around me as I read. There’s a bit of the “serious foodie” pretentiousness here that Grescoe smooths over with a sincere concern over the future of food and nutrition on our planet. I mean, is he seriously trying to get his young sons to make insects a daily part of their diet? I’m curious to know how that worked out, despite the clear evidence he provides of the nutritional value of insects.

And he doesn’t stop at insects, friends. He delves into other fascinating nutritional powerhouses among different cultures and describes his adventures in colorful and appealing detail.

This is a highly readable foray into the history of food and civilization from Neolithic times to the present day. I had not been exposed to the theory that agriculture is the root of the downfall of humans in history, which I found a fascinating thread through Grescoe’s travels across the globe.

“THE GREATEST MISTAKE in the history of the human race,” according to American geographer Jared Diamond, was farming. “With agriculture came the gross social and sexual inequality, the disease and despotism, that curse our existence.”

This would make a awesome book club selection and would generate some lively discussion, made even better by an accompaniment of chapulines for snacking.

Publication Date: September 19, 2023
Published By: Greystone Books
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy

Mystery, Suspense

American Girl by Wendy Walker

Patricia McDonald Uttaro

Description

A pulse-pounding novel about a small-town business owner found dead and the teenage girl caught in the crosshairs, American Girl is the latest thriller from internationally bestselling author Wendy Walker.

Charlie Hudson, an autistic seventeen-year-old, is determined to leave Sawyer, PA, as soon as she graduates high school. In the meantime, she works as many hours as she can at a sandwich shop called The Triple S to save money for college. But when shop owner, Clay Cooper—a man both respected and feared in their small economically depressed town—is found dead, each member of his staff becomes a suspect in the perplexing case. Before she can go anywhere, Charlie must protect herself and her friends by uncovering the danger that is still lurking in their tightknit community.

Based on the #1 bestselling Audible Original, author Wendy Walker returns with another riveting thriller, told through the eyes of an unforgettable protagonist.

My Thoughts

I’ve seen this novel described as The Maid meets Riverdale which is an apt description. Walker has given us a protagonist who beats the odds and makes it through a terrifying and stressful event to emerge a stronger and more confident version of herself. More importantly, Walker has given us a protagonist diagnosed as autistic and writes her with such empathy and clarity that this reader came away with a deeper understanding of what the diagnosis means and what it doesn’t.

Charlie is as complex a character as I’ve run across recently, and I throughly enjoyed watching her handle the murder situation. The loyalty, strength of conviction, and love on display made for a great read.

American Girl and Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger are two mystery/thrillers I am recommending among the Fall releases. Both will keep you reading and biting your nails!

A Note From the Publisher

Wendy Walker is the author of the psychological suspense novels All Is Not Forgotten, Emma in the Night, The Night Before, Don’t Look for Me, and American Girl. Her novels have been translated into twenty-three foreign languages, topped bestseller lists both nationally and abroad, and have been optioned for television and film. Wendy holds degrees from Brown University and Georgetown Law School. She is a former family law attorney with training in child advocacy and has worked in finance and several areas of the law.

Advance Praise

“Wendy Walker’s outstanding American Girl has a little bit of everything. A fascinating, perfectly rendered teen protagonist. An intricately plotted mystery. A deadly accurate portrait of a small town grappling with big issues. This novel is smart, moving, complex, and ultimately hopeful. A highly original work from one of the best suspense writers in the business. Don’t miss it!”

David Bell, New York Times bestselling author of She’s Gone and

Publication Date: October 17, 2023
Published By: Blackstone Publishing
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy

Book Tour, Historical, Mystery, Partners In Crime

Death and the Sisters by Heather Redmond

Patricia McDonald Uttaro

September 25 – October 20, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Description

The tangled relationships between Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and Mary’s stepsister Jane Clairmont form the backdrop for an intriguing historical mystery, set in London in 1814, that explores the complex dynamic between sisters and the birth of teenaged Mary’s creative genius.

London, 1814: Mary Godwin and her stepsister Jane Clairmont, both sixteen, possess quick minds bolstered by an unconventional upbringing, and have little regard for the rules that other young ladies follow. Mary, whose mother famously advocated for women’s rights, rejects the two paths that seem open to her—that of an assistant in her father’s bookshop, or an ordinary wife. Though quieter and more reserved than the boisterous Jane, Mary’s imagination is keen, and she longs for real-world adventures.

One evening, an opportunity arrives in the form of a dinner guest, Percy Bysshe Shelley. At twenty-one, Shelley is already a renowned poet and radical. Mary finds their visitor handsome and compelling, but it is later that evening, after the party has broken up, that events take a truly intriguing turn. When Mary comes downstairs in search of a book, she finds instead a man face down on the floor—with a knife in his back.

The dead man, it seems, was a former classmate of Shelley’s, and had lately become a personal and professional rival. What was he doing in the Godwins’ home? Mary, Jane, and Shelley are all drawn to learn the truth behind the tragedy, especially as each discovery seems to hint at a tangled web that includes many in Shelley’s closest circle. But as the attraction between Mary and the married poet intensifies, it sparks a rivalry between the sisters, even as it kindles the creative fire within.

My Thoughts

This book will appeal to so many different readers: fans of historical fiction, mystery fiction, classic literature, and “celebtrity” fiction. The author brings a young Mary Shelley to life through vivid description, well-paced dialog, and meticulous character development, all coming together in a captivating tale that I will be recommending everywhere this fall.

It’s refreshing to read an historical mystery where the women are unconventional but also realistic for their time and place. The initial meeting between Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley is electric, and their involvement in a bonafide murder mystery enhances the tension between them, foreshadowing their eventual union. The added twist of Mary’s sister Jane and her role in the entire mystery is handled with sensitivity and acknowledgement that the girls are, after all, sisters.

I look forward to more in this series from Heather Redmond.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical mystery
Published by: Kensington 
Publication Date: September 2023
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781496737991 (ISBN10: 1496737997)
Series: Mary Shelley Mystery, 1
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Kensington

Book Short Links:

Amazon – https://amzn.to/3NQ1zyp
Barnes & Noble – https://bit.ly/3Da35GV
BookShop.org – https://bit.ly/3DcjwCj
Goodreads – https://bit.ly/3JZHq8a
Kensington – https://bit.ly/3PWKMN1

Author Bio:

Heather Redmond

Heather Redmond is an author of commercial fiction and also writes as Heather Hiestand. First published in mystery, she took a long detour through romance before returning. Though her last British ancestor departed London in the 1920s, she is a committed anglophile, Dickens devotee, and lover of all things nineteenth century.

She has lived in Illinois, California, and Texas, and now resides in a small town in Washington State with her husband and son. The author of many novels, novellas, and short stories, she has achieved best-seller status at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers. Her 2018 Heather Redmond debut, A Tale of Two Murders, has received a coveted starred review from Kirkus Reviews.

Catch Up With Heather Redmond:
www.HeatherRedmond.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @heatherredmond1
Instagram – @hiestandheather
Twitter – @heatheraredmond
Heather Hiestand Redmond’s Reader Group on Facebook

Book Tour, Historical, Mystery, Partners In Crime

Murder at Midnight by Katharine Schellman

Patricia McDonald Uttaro

September 18 – October 13, 2023 Virtual Book Tour

Description

Regency widow Lily Adler is looking forward to a quiet Christmastide away from the schemes and secrets she witnessed daily in London. Not only will she be visiting the family of her late husband; she will be reunited with Captain Jack Hartley, her friend and confidante, finally returned after a long voyage at sea.

But secrets aren’t only found in London. Jack’s younger sister, Amelia, is the center of neighborhood scandal and gossip. She refuses to tell anyone what really happened, even when an unexpected snowstorm strands the neighborhood families together after a Christmas ball. Stuck until the snow stops, the Adlers, Hartleys, and their neighbors settle in for the night, only to be awakened in the morning by the scream of a maid who has just discovered a dead body.

The victim was the well-to-do son of a local gentleman–the same man whose name has become so scandalously linked to Amelia’s.

With the snow still falling and no way to come or go, it’s clear that someone in the house was responsible for the young man’s death. When suspicion instantly falls on Jack’s sister, he and Lily must unmask the true culprit before Amelia is convicted of a crime she didn’t commit.

My Thoughts

This is the second book I’ve read in the series and was pleased to find the same skillful writing and attention to detail. The author continues to develop the characters, and pays special attention to Lily who once again defies the conventions of the time.

The love triangle introduced earlier in the series is resolved here in what was an unexpected but not disappointing way. Lily’s ability to get along despite the constraints of the time placed upon women, particularly widows, sets her up as a daring role model for other characters.

Schellman’s work has been compared to Deanna Raybourn and Tasha Alexander, both giants in the historical mystery genre. She more than meets the expectations here. I’ll be recommending this to fans of historical mysteries for a very long time.

Praise for Murder at Midnight:

“Delightful . . . Historical mystery fans will devour this holiday treat.” 
~  Publishers Weekly

“A plummy period whodunit with a colorful collection of suspects.”
~ Kirkus Reviews

Perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Ashley Weaver, when a body is found shot to death after an unexpected snowstorm, Lily Adler quickly realizes that some people will stop at nothing to bury their secrets.

Book Details:

Genre: Historical mystery
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: September 2023
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781639104321 (ISBN10: 1639104321)
Series: A Lily Adler Mystery, 4
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Penguin Random House

Book ShortLinks:

Amazon – https://amzn.to/3DbYQKQ
Barnes & Noble – https://bit.ly/3OdZePh
BookShop.org – https://bit.ly/3pMTpPo
Goodreads – https://bit.ly/3pOPMIM
Penguin Random House – https://bit.ly/3NV6YUU

Author Bio:

Katharine Schellman

Katharine Schellman is a former actor and one-time political consultant. These days, she writes the Lily Adler Mysteries and the Nightingale Mysteries. Her books, which reviewers have praised as “worthy of Agatha Christie or Rex Stout” (Library Journal, starred review), have received multiple accolades, including being named a Library Journal Best Crime Fiction of 2022, a Suspense Magazine Best Book of 2020, and a New York Times editor’s pick in June 2022. Katharine lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering.

Catch Up With Katharine Schellman:
www.KatharineSchellman.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @KatharineSchellman
Instagram – @katharinewrites
Facebook – @katharineschellman

Providence Book Promotions
British, Cozy, Ghosties, Mystery

Grave Expectations by Alice Bell

Patricia McDonald Uttaro

Description

A fast-paced and hilarious debut crime novel, in which a burnt-out Millennial medium must utilize her ability to see ghosts and team-up with a band of oddball investigators to figure out which member(s) of a posh English family are guilty of murder.

“This book has bags of humor, bags of heart, and a proper murder mystery at its core.” —Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal

Almost-authentic medium Claire and her best friend, Sophie, agree to take on a seemingly simple job at a crumbling old manor in the English countryside: performing a seance for the family matriarch’s 80th birthday. The pair have been friends since before Sophie went missing when they were seventeen. Everyone else is convinced Sophie simply ran away, but Claire knows the truth. Claire knows Sophie was murdered because Sophie has been haunting her ever since.

Despite this traumatic past, Claire and Sophie are still unprepared for what they encounter when they arrive at the manor: a ghost, tragic and unrecognizable, and clearly the spirit of someone killed in a rage at the previous year’s party. Given her obsession with crime shows—not to mention Sophie’s ability to walk through walls—Claire decides they’re the best people to solve the case. And with the help of the only obviously not-guilty members of their host family—sexy ex-policeman Sebastian and far-too-cool non-binary teen Alex—they launch an investigation into which of last year’s guests never escaped the manor’s grounds.

What follows is somewhat irregular detective work involving stealing a priest’s cassock, getting too drunk to remember to question your suspect, and of course, Chekhov’s sparkly purple dildo. As Claire desperately tries to keep a lid on the shameful secret that would definitely alienate her new friends, the gang must race against their own incompetence to find the murderer before the murderer finds them.

My Thoughts

This was an absolute delight to read!

A protagonist and her “familiar” ghost and who will appeal to young readers as well as seasoned mystery fans like me, plus lightly disguised caricatures of the typical upper class English family (including a daughter named Figgy, a brother named Basher, and a mother named Clemmy) blend together to create a sassy and clever mystery.

Fans of cozy British mysteries that include a bit of the supernatural will gravitate to this one. I’ll be recommending this as part of my “31 Days of Halloween” reading list.

Publication Date: September 5, 2023
Published By: Vintage Anchor
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy

Mystery, New Releases, Psychological, Suspense, Women

Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

Patricia McDonald Uttaro

Description

Instead of presents this Christmas, a true crime podcaster is opening up a cold case…

Madeline Martin has built a life for herself as the young owner of a thriving business, The Next Chapter Bookshop, despite her tragic childhood and now needing to care for her infirm father. When Harley Granger, a failed novelist turned true crime podcaster, drifts into her shop in the days before Christmas, he seems intent on digging up events that Madeline would much rather forget. She’s the only surviving victim of Evan Handy, the man who was convicted of murdering her best friend Steph, and is suspected in the disappearance of two sisters, also good friends of Madeline’s, who have been missing for nearly a decade. It’s an investigation that has obsessed her father Sheriff James Martin right up until his stroke took his faculties.

Harley Granger has a gift for seeing things that others miss. He wasn’t much of a novelist, but his work as a true crime author and podcaster has earned him fame and wealth—and some serious criticism for his various unethical practices. Still, visiting Little Valley to be closer to his dying father has caused him to look into a case that many people think is closed—and some want reopened. And he has a lot of questions about the night Stephanie Cramer was killed, Ainsley and Sam Wallace disappeared, and Madeline Martin was left for dead, bleeding out on a riverbank.

Since Evan Handy went to jail, three other young women have gone missing, most recently a young college dropout named Lolly. Five young women missing in the same area in a decade. Are they connected? Was Evan Handy innocent after all? Or was there some else there that night? Someone who is still satisfying his dark appetites?

As Christmas approaches and a blizzard bears down, Madeline and her childhood friend Badger return to a past they both hoped was dead—to find the missing Lolly and to answer questions that have haunted them both, discovering that the truth is more terrible and much closer to home than they think.

Coupling a picturesque, cozy setting with a deeply unsettling suspenseful plot, Christmas Presents is a chilling seasonal novella that can be enjoyed all year long.

My Thoughts

I picked up this nail-biter of a novel and set it down 2 hours later, absolutely drained. This is a whopper of a story that grabs ahold from the first chapter and doesn’t let you go until the final sentence.

While the story is shorter than others, I found myself feeling a sense of urgency while reading, adding to the tension. Everything works here from the characters to the dialog to the narrative structure and description – it all comes together in this incendiary story that will have you gripping the book, white-knuckled, as you gnaw on your fingernails.

So well done.

Publication Date: October 24, 2023
Published By: Penzler Publishers; Mysterious Press
Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy