Finally getting around to sharing the last bit of my reading for 2021 in these micro reviews!
The Curse of Morton Abbey by Clarissa Harwood
Thornfield Press, October 2021 – Fans of traditional gothic romance novels will savor this spooky, dark, melodramatic story that features one of the coolest, bravest characters I’ve read in a while. All the elements are here: the crumbling and isolated mansion, the flawed characters with tragic pasts, the crying child in the night, the villagers who shun the property and the family, capped by the plucky girl and the curmudgeonly master of the house. The plot is predictable and familiar, exactly what I was looking for after a long day at work. This will give you a few hours of distraction and enjoyment.
The Steal by M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner
Bluebox Press, August 2021 – A fun, clever romp through Cannes, Paris, and New York featuring a classy, smart jewelry artist and business executive paired with a rumpled, smart-alecky ex-soldier turned insurance investigator. This is the kind of book you pick up in an airport and devour in between and on flights then leave somewhere for another bored traveler. Overall appealing writing and a fanciful plot that whisks you through the fairyland of post-war Europe inhabited by film stars and very rich people. This would make a wonderful madcap rom-com-mystery movie. A very pleasant interlude….
A Secret Never Told by Shelley Noble
Macmillan-Tor/Forge, February 2022 – This is a well-written, nicely crafted mystery that will appeal to readers who enjoy historical suspense. Nothing tremendously unusual here, but still a nicely done mystery featuring a strong female lead.
The Hanged Man’s Tale by Gerald Jay
Doubleday Books, December 2021 – I dip in and out of French police procedurals and thought it was time to check out this author again. I’ve enjoyed his work, and was not disappointed in this one. Readers will find a cleverly plotted, well-written story that will keep their interest. The tarot element adds a mysterious creepiness to hunt for the serial killer.
The Witching Tree by Alice Blanchard
St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, December 2021 – The writing here is very well done – lush descriptions, good pacing – and the characters what you’d expect in a suspense novel. The beginning sucks you in and the story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader interested. My only issue is that I found the ending a little odd, almost as if a chapter was missing. Maybe a sequel will appear.
Circus of Wonders by Elizabeth Macneal
Atria Books, February 2022 – Circus stories seem to be on the rise again, and Macneal has given us a dark but joyful look into a 19th century traveling show. Knowing what was going to happen to Nell made the first couple chapters very difficult to read, but the stage was set for her life to really take off. Macneal has written a story full of love, deception, and ultimately independence, made real by the colorful characters juggling and leaping through the pages. I’ll be recommending this one for book groups for sure.
The Burning Pages by Paige Shelton
St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, April 2022 – I have turned to cozy mysteries more and more this year, and Paige Shelton’s Scottish Bookshop series is one of my favorites. I enjoy the way Shelton has developed the characters by putting each of them at the center of the mystery. In this entry, we learn the backstory for Hamlet, Delaney’s co-worker at the bookshop. We also learn a bit more about Rosie, Edwin, and Delaney’s brother Wyatt. As usual, the mystery is interesting and well-researched, keeping my attention to the end. I recommend this series frequently and will continue to do so.
Thanks to Netgalley.com for the review copies of these books.
The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser – The Vanderbeeker kids are back in another charming story about generosity, being a good neighbor, and growing up. This is one of those gentle, feel-good stories where nothing much happens, except real life. The kids witness a beloved neighbor having a stroke, they struggle with their own emotions, and they learn that even kids who appear to have it all often don’t. The Vanderbeekers are definitely “free range” kids, and their adventures in their Harlem neighborhood are the stuff of dreams. The kids are all written beautifully and the family dynamics are definitely something to emulate. This is not a particularly special story in that it’s something “new” but it will be enjoyed by early to middle grade readers who just like to read about other kids.
In the Night Wood by Dale Bailey – Bailey checks all the boxes in this supernatural, psychological thriller of a book: a couple whose marriage is in trouble, a dead child, a mysterious English manor house, a spooky forest, intimidating & creepy manor staff, a past tragedy…and more. Charles, Erin & Lissa are the seemingly perfect family whose life is turned upside down by a truly horrible accident. The psychological strain of that experience coupled with the gothic-horror experience of Hollow House makes for a top-notch, nail-biting, check-under-the-bed thrilling novel. For fans of English folklore, horror, and suspense. Recommended.
Bluecrowne by Kate Milford – As a diehard Greenglass House fan, I eagerly anticipated this prequel to the series, and I am not disappointed. Kate Milford introduces us to a whole new cast of colorful characters who are every bit as entertaining, clever, and quirky as Milo and company. Lucy Bluecrowne is a character for the ages, and I look forward to following her adventures as she grows up. Liao and Xianming are also so intriguing that they deserve another book as well. Milford is well on her way to creating a world in Nagspeake that is every bit as magical and real as J.K. Rowling’s Hogwarts. Her writing is full of lovely descriptions, clever and thoughtful dialogue, and plenty of mystery, suspense, action, adventure, and magic. Highly recommended.
Secret History of the Jersey Devil: How Quakers, Hucksters, and Benjamin Franklin Created a Monster by Brian Regan – It seems that creating monsters to distract people from real issues is not something unique to 21st century politics. As a longtime but amateur student of cryptozoology, I am always open to reading new accounts of legends and monsters, so I was eager to learn more about the infamous Jersey Devil. The origin story of Mother Leeds giving birth to an evil, horrifying “monster” that flew up the chimney certainly has its roots in European folklore and fairytales. Those tales were often created to make people do things – e.g. Peg Powler and Jenny Greenteeth were invented to keep children away from rivers and streams, thereby keeping them safe from drowning. In this book, Regal and Esposito take the Jersey Devil out of the New Jersey Pine Barrens and link it to political intrigue and opinion-shaping. What better way to get people to do what you want than to scare the crap out of them? I suppose it’s somewhat comforting to know that such political maneuvering has been going on for hundreds of years without the world ending, which suggests that the current version of the Jersey Devil (immigrants/Muslims) will eventually be replaced with something else. This is not light reading, however, so I will recommend for those who enjoy non-fiction related to politics and history.
Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson – Leonardo da Vinci has always fascinated me, so this new biography of possibly one of the greatest humans ever to live was something I had to read. Isaacson delivers a well-crafted look not only into da Vinci’s life but into the culture of the time which certainly shaped his world view and supported his curiosity. It was da Vinci’s insatiable curiosity about everything that first attracted me to him so many years ago, and Isaacson provides a laser view into the mind that envisioned flight, surgery, and so much more. Highly readable, well written, and meticulously researched, this is very much recommended.
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