Action Adventure, Book Tour, Mystery, Partners In Crime, Suspense

The Ignoble Lie by Matthew Peters


Virtual Book Tour
July 7 – August 1
Of Gods & Men Series

Description

What if the Ark of the Covenant isn’t a reference to the chest containing the Ten Commandments God revealed to Moses atop Mount Sinai?

What if it refers to the contents of a tomb of an Egyptian pharaoh which would revolutionize religious history?

As ex-Jesuit Scott Larson and adventuress Zady Jones learn, such a discovery can be deadly.

A terrorist attack on the Great Pyramid of Giza ratchets up the tension in Washington, D.C., where President John Jenkins has been impeached for an order declaring the U.S. a Judeo-Christian nation. The terrorists threaten more attacks in Egypt and the U.S. unless their demand is met—and it’s something only Larson and Jones can give them.

When the efforts to meet the terrorists’ demand goes awry and Zady’s sister is kidnapped, Larson and Jones race to save her. Along the way, they receive a series of mysterious clues that point to the existence of a shocking historical secret, one that could not only topple Jenkins’ presidency but upend Judeo-Christianity itself.

My Thoughts

I’ve read a good amount of speculative fiction concerning “great secrets” that will forever change Christianity, Democracy, Science, History, and so on. But, it’s rare that I’ve read one based on such an obscure, wild premise as this story (right up there with ‘Jesus was an alien” theories).

Peters does a good job of building tension as the plot moves along. He keeps the characters to a minimum so he’s able to develop them as the story progresses and focus on the core of the plot – what really was in that tomb and what does it mean for Christianity?

I was reminded of early Steve Berry books as I read this, which made me happy. I often enjoy the first books in a series more because they are surprising and unexpected. Once a series progresses, the reader begins to predict what will happen as they become more familiar with the author and characters. There’s a delicious element of surprise in Peters’ narrative, supported by tightly crafted narrative and dialog, all leading up to the explosive conclusion.

Recommended for fans of Steve Berry, Clive Cussler, and James Rollins.

Author Bio

Matthew Peters has a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.A., and Ph.D. from Duke University. He is a member of International Thriller Writers and currently resides in North Carolina. He is passionate about exploring religious, political, and socioeconomic issues from a variety of different perspectives and especially values the views put forth by marginalized groups or people. His writing involves a good deal of research, and he is committed to writing plausible novels, in the hope of giving readers food for thought.

Book Details

Genre: Political/Religious thriller
Published by: Mélange Books
Publication Date: May 12, 2025
Number of Pages: 368
ISBN: 979-8886533712 (print)
Series: Of Gods & Men, Book 1

Shortlinks

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Children's

Let’s Rumble! by Rachel G. Payne


Publisher Description

A lively and humorous depiction of healthy rough-and-tumble play between siblings.

When the oldest and youngest siblings decide to rumble, they do so with great imagination and careful consent. Wrecking ball! Steamroller! Bear hug! Sandwich!… The list goes on of inspiringly creative physical play scenarios, with a running narration of text bubbles between kids. When the middle sibling decides to join, the other two inform her of their code word (“Cantaloupe”), which means “Stop everything!” An engaging and encouraging model of healthy rough-and-tumble play, the benefits of which are explained in pointer-rich back matter for parents and caregivers.

My Thoughts

It’s been a very long time since I’ve posted about a picture book on this site, but this one is so much fun I had to do it.

Filled with imaginative and fluid illustrations in muted colors, the spare text draws you from page to page as you follow the active play of a set of siblings. This isn’t the old “noogie” play with older siblings, but a wonderful set of words and images which depict rough but respectful play. Everyone in this rumble is an equal part of the sometimes rough play.

I especially like the last page which is for adults and provides some context for the theme of the book. If you’ve ever had a child in your life who prefers not to participate in rough, hands-on play because the contact and activity is not appealing, you will definitely appreciate Payne’s insight into safe and enjoyable play.

Admission: I’ve known the author for a long time, primarily through her work with the Brooklyn Public Library. My thoughts on her first picture book are mine alone. Payne draws on her deep understanding of child development and early literacy here and has produced a book that I will be gifting to a few people in my life. I look forward to more from Payne and from illustrator Jose Pimienta.

Recommended!

Publication Date: July 8, 2025
Published By: Penguin Random House

British, Detective, Historical, Mystery, New Releases

Knave of Diamonds by Laurie R. King


Publisher Description

Mary Russell’s allegiances are tested by the reappearance of her long-lost uncle—and a tantalizing case not even Sherlock Holmes could solve.

When Mary Russell was a child, she adored her black sheep Uncle Jake. But she hasn’t heard from him in many years, and she assumed that his ne’er-do-well ways had brought him to a bad end somewhere—until he presents himself at her Sussex door. Yes, Jake is back, and with a load of problems for his clever niece. Not the least of which is the reason the family rejected him in the first place: He was involved—somehow—in the infamous disappearance of the Irish Crown Jewels from an impregnable safe in Dublin Castle.

It was a theft that shook a government, enraged a king, threatened the English establishment—and baffled not only the Dublin police and Scotland Yard, but Sherlock Holmes himself. And, now, Jake expects Russell to step into the middle of it all? To slip away with him, not telling Holmes what she’s up to? Knowing that the theft—unsolved, hushed-up, scandalous—must have involved Mycroft Holmes as well?

Naturally, she can do nothing of the sort. Siding with her uncle, even briefly, could only place her in opposition to both her husband-partner and his secretive and powerful brother. She has to tell Jake no.

On the other hand, this is Jake—her father’s kid brother, her childhood hero, the beloved and long-lost survivor of a much-diminished family.

Conflicting loyalties and international secrets, blatant lies and blithe deceptions: sounds like another case for Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes.

My Thoughts

I swear, the last three books in King’s Mary Russell series are some of the best, which is a tremendous feat. Often in a series that has gone on a long time, you can tell when an author is getting tired. The plots become repetitive and the characters lose their charm.

Not so here.

Russell and Holmes are their usual witty, clever selves and the introduction of Russell’s Uncle Jake adds a new and intriguing character to the mix. This seems to be a trend King is riding. Her last book, Lantern Dance, wrote Holmes’ son by Irene Adler into a much stronger character. Here, we delve more into Russell’s past through her uncle.

King always throws in new connections between Holmes and Russell that sometimes even pre-date their meeting in The Beekeeper’s Apprentice. I keep imagining a wall in Laurie King’s house that is covered with strings connecting Holmes and Russell to countless characters, each strand leading to a new story.

While this can be read as a stand-alone story, I strongly recommend you read the series from start to finish to get the best understanding of the dynamic between these two fascinating characters. If you are an audiobook fan, I also recommend that version narrated by the wonderful Jenny Sterlin.

Highly recommended.

Publication Date: June 10, 2025
Published By: Penguin Random House
Thanks to The Greece Public Library for the book

Cozy, Mystery, paranormal, Romance

A Spirited Blend by Lauren Elliott


Publisher Description

For charmed tea shop owner Shay Myers, getting steeped in Bray Harbor, California’s October festivities is spookier than she ever could have bargained for—especially when a bone-chilling murder mystery spells grave danger . . .

With Halloween around the corner, Shay Myers is brewing witchy seasonal sips at Crystals and CuriosiTEAS—while simultaneously steaming over pub owner Liam Madigan’s decision to take anybody but her to the town’s Monster Mash dance. Her romantic premonitions have missed the mark since she settled into coastal Bray Harbor, opening the door to questions about whether she’s really the gifted seer her late mother imagined. It’s why she second guesses the dark vision in her tea leaves about a local citizen and their obsession with genealogy, Irish folklore, and magic . . .

But when bad omens come true, Shay doesn’t have time for self-doubt. A woman’s body has been discovered, frozen in a strange pose with an eerie black butterfly on her forehead, leading to suspicions that the victim took a conjuring ritual too far due to limited experience—or was murdered by someone with too much. As an investigation stirs up a sinister connection to a boardwalk mystic shop, Shay, guided by her knowing dog, Spirit, finds herself tracking down a shady figure from her past, navigating the sudden reappearance of her ex-husband, and chasing down a wickedly perceptive criminal who might finally be her match!

My Thoughts

This is a pleasant afternoon read for those of you who like their mysteries cozy, uncomplicated, and with touches of the paranormal and romance.

There’s some information on teas and crystals included in the narrative, and a good dose of Irish folklore, which adds some appeal to the narrative. You’ll finish this one feeling like the characters are friends and you really want to be able to go visit the shop and hang out with them.

Publication Date: May 25, 2025
Published By: Penguin Random House
Thanks to the Greece Public Library for the book

Mystery, World Literature

Pentimento Mori by Valeria Corciolani


Description

Renowned art historian Dr. Edna Silvera is not your typical detective. In fact, she’s not a detective at all. But when she stumbles across an apparently impossible medieval painting in the suddenly-deceased Nando Folli’s junk shop, her curiosity lands her in trouble with the police and on the trail of a shadowy world no one wants to admit exists.

Valeria Corciolani, author of Pentimento Mori, is an Italian publishing phenomenon. Her books have over 62,000 reviews on Amazon.it and have been made into award winning films. Pentimento Mori (originally published as Con l’arte e con l’inganno) is the first of her works to be translated into English. Combining scrupulously correct art history with international intrigue, murder, and a solid dose of humor, this is Corciolani’s most ambitious work yet.

My Thoughts

If ever a translated work has made me want to learn the language of origin, it’s this one! I’ve been in a weird sort of reading slump since I retired from the library. I’m trying to catch up on my old Goodreads “Want To Read” list and trying to finish a few reviews, including this one. I’ve been a little off mysteries lately, finding them formulaic and not terribly inventive, but then I got to Pentimento Mori.

What an absolute TREAT to read a literate, clever, and humorous mystery featuring a “detective” I would really like to share a coffee with and hear about Hieronymos Bosch.

This is storytelling at its best. Colorful and unexpected characters, witty dialog, and beautifully descriptive narrative that transports you to Italy – all of this whirls together in a story that you will remember for a long time.

I am hopeful that more of this author’s work will be translated. If it’s not, I really will need to learn to read Italian.

Recommended.

Publication Date: July 16, 2024
Published By: Kazabo Publishing
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy

Book Tour, Mystery, Partners In Crime

Elegance & Evil by DK Coutant


Virtual Book Tour June 2 – 27, 2025

Description

Cleo Cooper left ocean-dipping weekends as a psychology professor in Hawaii to sample life in the high desert of Santa Fe for her sabbatical. With her romantic relationship on the rocks in Hawaii, Cleo falls for Luc, a charming international expert in her field and is tempted to make the change permanent. She enjoys the people, the work, and the sparkling conversations, even if they come with a bite. But, when a wealthy backer of her project is killed, the snarky scientists, artists, and a Saudi ex-pat, who Cleo thought were her new friends, are now at the top of the suspect list. And with a killer on the loose, Cleo finds her life, and her love, in danger.

My Thoughts

The second entry in the author’s Cleo Cooper mystery series is a deftly plotted and casually narrated, semi-cozy mystery sure to appeal to mystery readers. I very much enjoy the current trend of what I call “casual” narration where the dialog and description are well crafted but not overly complicated. The characters seem like real people – those I like and who could be my friend (Cleo) and those who I would immediately walk away from (Jon). This kind of narration makes the reader feel a part of the story and is not as whimsical and silly as most cozy mysteries.

Coutant uses her real life expertise to craft appealing characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing. Cleo is smart, sassy, and loyal to a fault. She wends her way through an unfamiliar environment made more complicated by a murder but still manages to outwit the bad guys. I enjoyed this one enough I’ll seek out Coutant’s first Cleo Cooper mystery and will look forward to the next one.

Author Bio

DK Coutant graduated from Davidson College with a Psychology degree and initially applied her behavioral training to animals at Sea World, working with dolphins and whales. After a couple of years, she realized that scrubbing fish buckets might get old, and went back to Graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology, specializing in Cross-Cultural Issues. She began her academic career in Maine. A few years later, she made the jump to Hawaii and worked at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, rising to Department Chair of the Psychology Department. After many happy years in Hawaii,  her love for travel led her to make the move out of academics. She accepted positions as a professional geopolitical forecaster with GJ Inc. and Rand Forecasting Initiative. She splits her time between Olympia, WA, Santa Fe, NM, and France, with her husband and an Old English Sheepdog, Beasley. Evil Alice and Borzoi was released by the Wild Rose Press in 2023. Elegance and Evil is the second in the Cleo Cooper Mysteries.

Book Details

Genre: Traditional Mystery, Amateur Sleuth
Published by: The Wild Rose Press
Publication Date: June 4, 2025
Number of Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-1-5092-6136-9
Series: Cleo Cooper Mysteries, Book 2

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Book Tour, Books About Books, Cozy, Family, Magical, Mystery, Partners In Crime

By Hook or By Book by Misty Simon


June 2 – 27, 2025 Virtual Book Tour
The Charmed Inn Mysteries #1

Description

Roxy Gleason, an innkeeper by trade and a bibliomancer by birth, has lived in the same small town on the Susquehanna River in Central Pennsylvania for her entire life. Tradition is strong here. Roxy understands the rules and is willing to play by them most of the time. She runs the Charmed Inn, which has been in her family for decades.

The inn is all set to host a writers’ professional business weekend that’s been planned down to the very last hand-folded napkin, and Roxy is ready for the influx of creatives. She knows she’ll have a lot of different and sometimes unusual personalities to deal with, but this is a yearly function, so she’s not expecting anything to go awry.

Her expectations are completely tanked when she finds a dead body on her daily walk by the river’s shore. Owen Schultz had checked in for the conference a few hours ago, and she’d last seen him having tea with her aunt in the dining room.

How did he get down here on the ferry, and who killed him?

Fans of Lucy Score, Melissa F. Miller, Dianne Harman, Lynn Cahoon, Deany Ray, Kathi Daley, and Merryn Allingham will enjoy Misty Simon.

My Thoughts

I always enjoy the beginnings of a new cozy mystery series, and Misty Simon’s Charmed Inn Mysteries is very promising, indeed. The writing is loose and flowing, lending an air of familiarity and comfort to the reader as the story progresses.

I enjoyed the colorful characters, especially Roxy and her bibliomancy skills. I’ve read a few stories where books “speak” to the protagonist, but Simon handles that piece of the story with colorful imagination, helping the reader to imagine the letters, sparking and dancing in the air, form the crucial messages that help Roxy unravel the mystery.

Simon successfully introduces an endearing and appealing cast of characters who will undoubtedly continue to encounter murder mysteries in future books. I was hooked from the first sentence describing Roxy’s uncle as “Cheezy Rider,” which immediately clues in the reader to expect a fun story.

Recommended for cozy mystery fans.

Author Bio

Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller…preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock… Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time.

Touching people’s hearts and funny bones are two of her favorite things, and she hopes everyone at least snickers in the right places when reading her books. She lives with her husband in Central Pennsylvania where she is hard at work on her next novel or three. She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at misty@mistysimon.com.

Catch Up With Misty Simon:

MistySimon.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads
BookBub – @MistySimon
Instagram – @mistysimonwrites
Threads – @mistysimonwrites
Facebook – @misty.simon.18

Book Details

Genre: Rom Cozy (Paranormal Cozy mystery with Romantic elements)
Published by: Rowan Prose Publishing
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Number of Pages: 300
ASIN: B0D98KM21B
Series: The Charmed Inn Mysteries, Book 1

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Book Tour, Cozy, Mystery, Partners In Crime

Cayman Conundrum by Stacy Wilder


June 9-20 Virtual Book Tour
Liz Adams Mystery Series

Description

A honeymoon in paradise turns perilous in this riveting seaside mystery.

A tropical vacation transforms into a web of danger and deception when an author and his manuscript vanish. Is his thriller about money laundering in the Caribbean too close to the truth?

With the stakes high and time ticking, Private Investigator Liz Adams and her new husband, Brad, along with their truth-sniffing Labrador, Duke, partner with the local authorities to unravel a multitude of crimes. As they search for clues, the newlyweds explore the delights of the island, including a hunt for buried treasure.

Will they uncover the truth in time, or will the honeymoon end in heartbreak? Set against the backdrop of the stunning island of Grand Cayman, this cozy mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

My Thoughts

This is a new series for me, and I was pleased to find that I could jump in and enjoy this without having read the earlier books. What I found was a delightfully fun mystery with a bit of an edge – a cozy blended with a hard-edged crime and ruthless criminal.

Liz and Brad (and, of course, Duke!) are as engaging a pair of detectives as I’ve found recently. I was reminded a bit of Carolyn Hart’s “Death on Demand” married duo, but Liz and Brad are definitely a 21st century couple!

The murder mystery here is handled with sensitivity, given that the victim is a friend of the couple. The plot is well-developed and sneaky enough that I was still guessing past the half-way point. The guilty party is totally repulsive and unexpected.

This will be a great summer read, especially if you’re on a beach!

Author Bio

Stacy Wilder writes mysteries, children’s stories, short stories, and poetry. Her mission is to deliver a delightful story to readers of all ages while benefiting a larger community. She donates a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her books to causes that help the homeless, both people and pets.

Beyond writing, Stacy is deeply devoted to her faith, family, and her beloved Labradors. She is also enthusiastic about the causes she supports, the beauty of art, the serenity of the beach, and the joy of reading.

She and her husband live in Houston, TX with a totally spoiled Labrador named Eve.

Book Details

Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Published by:  Wild Hawk Press
Publication Date:  June 28, 2024 
Number of Pages:  227
ISBN:  9798985426694 (Pbk)
Series:  A Liz Adams Mystery, Book 4 

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Ghosties, Mystery, New Releases, paranormal, Psychological, Spooky Season, Suspense, Women

Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell


Description

When a mysterious figure shows up in the photograph an architect takes of the derelict Seabrink Hotel, ghostly encounters and murder are unleashed.

Aubrey Spencer loves photographing classic old buildings and abandoned places that hold old secrets. The Hotel Seabrink, perched overlooking the sea, is one such place. Currently abandoned but scheduled for a major renovation, it has a torrid history. Back in the 1920s it hosted A-list celebrity clientele, and now the locals insist it is haunted by the ghosts of two young women who died there. When Aubrey goes to photograph the site before the renovation begins, she bumps into a man named Dimitri Petroff, a minor online celebrity who shares her fascination with old buildings, the Hotel Seabrink in particular.

When he is found dead the next day at the base of a cliff, the police are quick to close the investigation. But Aubrey feels unsettled by locals who claim he was murdered and that it’s not the first time someone interested in the hotel was killed. As she digs deeper into the property’s dark history (and its origins as an asylum) as well as Dimitri’s professional rivalries, she becomes mired in an unsolved murder case from several decades earlier, one with eerie parallels to the contemporary case.  But someone is determined to keep her from discovering the truth—at any cost.

My Thoughts

I’ve been a fan of Juliet Blackwell’s books for a long time, beginning with her Lily Ivory series and expanding into her later forays in longer fiction. I confess, I was very disappointed to hear that the Lily Ivory series has sunsetted, but if giving up the LI series means Blackwell has time to write mysteries like this absolute STAR of a book, I’m good!

Turns out Blackwell’s earlier writing might have been practice for this full-blown mysterious, scary, imaginative story.

Everything here works seamlessly to deliver a taut, suspenseful, and very well written paranormal mystery. It’s just the right amount of scary blended with a well-plotted mystery, resulting in a startling and very satisfying conclusion. Blackwell steps into the circle with authors like Simone St. James and Sarah Rayne, delivering a story that will keep you turning pages, albeit with all the lights on.

So well done!

Publication Date: July 29, 2025
Published By: Berkley Publishing Group
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the review copy

Action Adventure, British, Historical, Mystery

The Grand Illusion by Syd Moore


Publisher Description

Historical fiction inspired by the War Office response to the Nazi obsession with the occult

Step forward Daphne Devine – you are about to change the course of the war 

June 1940. As World War Two rages, Daphne Devine remains in London, performing each night as assistant to stage magician Jonty Trevelyan, aka the Grand Mystique.

Then the secret service call.

For, aware of Hitler’s belief in the occult, the war office has set up a hidden cohort to exploit this quirk in the enemy’s chain of command.

Daphne and Jonty find themselves far from the glitz and glamour of the theatre, deep inside the lower levels of Wormwood Scrubs prison. Here, they join secret ranks of occultists, surrealists, and other eccentrics co-opted to the war effort. There is one goal: to avert invasion on British shores.

Soon Daphne realises she must risk everything if there is any chance of saving her country.

My Thoughts

I first read Syd Moore’s Essex Witch Museum series a few years ago, then she dropped off my reading radar…until I came across this beauty buried in my Goodreads Want to Read list. I am very happy I found her again!

Grand Illusion is a whopper of an adventure, complete with likable (and unlikable) characters, suspense, action, a nail-biting climax, and promise of more to come.

This explores the little-known use of illusion in WWII – where the Allies used illusory effects to fool the Axis into thinking they had bigger, better & more people and equipment. Here, Moore uses Daphne and her mentor/employer Jonty to develop all sorts of illusions to trick the enemy. There’s a wonderful scene where a senior official believes he is under attack by the enemy, only to discover it’s all smoke and mirrors.

Moore also touches on the incarceration and deportation of thousands of Germans and Italians in Britain during the war. This is the first I’ve read about that and will be seeking out more information (always the sign of a good book!)

Moore is a clever, engaging writer who consistently produces quirky and imaginative mysteries that depart from the well-worn tropes used by many authors. Check out all her work, including Grand Illusion.

Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Published By: Magpie Books, Simon & Schuster
Thanks to the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County for the book