Surrounded by family secrets, suspicious deaths, and her own repressed memories, fifteen year-old Clara Willenheim lives as a prisoner in her ancestral estate in 1860s Bavaria. Her only chance of escape is to journey through the castle’s secret passages, unraveling her family’s dark history and its place at the center of a vast web of crime. Driven by the capricious and vengeful ghost of her long-dead aunt, Clara opens doors that threaten powerful enemies, a place where she’s forced to choose between righting past wrongs or losing her own life.
A historical Gothic mystery brimming with suspense and plot twists, The Death of Clara Willenheim is layered in rich, period detail. The novel explores the cost of selflessness and the struggle to choose between justice and vengeance. But at its heart, it’s a story about how, when one part of ourselves dies, something greater can rise in its place.
My Thoughts
If you’re looking for a modern book written in the style of traditional gothics, this is your book. The language is complex, florid at times, and beautifully descriptive which will appeal to readers who truly love language, albeit very dark. The author has a solid grasp of descriptive narrative bolstered by a suspenseful and horrifying story with a satisfying resolution.
The first chapter skillfully set the stage for the suffocating, dangerous narrative which followed. There’s a lot in this story that will make a person with claustrophobia cringe. Which brings me to my only issue with this book – lack of trigger warnings in the description. While gothics traditionally hint at truly terrible things that occur to the heroine, the truly terrible things here – child molestation and trafficking – are topics that I typically avoid in the books I select. Taking my personal reaction to that out of the mix, I am left with a favorable review because the story is very well-written and the plot convincingly dark.
Publication Date: October 29, 2024 Published By: The Gothic Literary Society Thanks to Book Sirens for the review copy
I wasn’t going to add to the huge noise of every reader online putting out their “Best Of” lists, but here we are. Truth – my reading in 2024 was pretty superficial – lots of cozy mysteries and children’s books. However, there were three books that I have not been able to forget, so here they are.
Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden – I actually read this in 2023, but it was published in 2024. If you’re not reading Katherine Arden, what’s stopping you? Her Winternight Trilogy is by far the best fantasy series I’ve read in the last decade, but this book…this book cannot be categorized. It’s part fantasy, part magical realism, and part historical fiction all wound up in one utterly draining and powerful story about the changing form of evil.
The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo – I’ve recommended this book more times than I can remember. Gorgeous writing provides the foundation for a magical, tender tale of mothers & children, the power of childhood memories, and the cost of vengeance.
Lilith by Eric Rickstad – This heartrending, potent story of a mother going after the people she believes responsible for her child being involved in a school shooting is a timely, painful, and dark reading experience. There isn’t a parent out there who hasn’t thought about what they’d do if their child was a victim of gun violence.
News of a missing Instagram celebrity brings Senior Investigator Shana Merchant to a frozen island community of just eight people. When the visit turns deadly, her hunt for a killer collides with a cold case she’ll never forget . . .
It’s February in the Thousand Islands and, cut off from civilization by endless ice, eight people are overwintering on tiny, remote Running Pine. Six year-rounders, used to the hard work, isolation and freezing temperatures . . . and two newcomers: social-media stars Cary and Sylvie, whose account documenting their year on the island is garnering thousands of followers, and thousands of dollars’ worth of luxury gifts.
The long-term islanders will tell you Running Pine can be perilous – especially for city slickers who’ll do anything to get the perfect shot. So when Cary doesn’t return from ice fishing one morning, his neighbors fear the worst.
With the clock ticking to find the missing influencer, a police team are dispatched to take the dangerous journey to the island . . . but Sylvie, his frantic partner, will only talk to one person: newlywed Senior Investigator Shana Merchant.
Where is Cary – and what is it that Sylvie’s not sharing? With aspects of the case reminding Shana of an unsolved homicide from her past that haunts her still, she risks her own safety to help. But little does she know that a storm is coming – and if she doesn’t solve both crimes soon, she may become the island’s next victim . . . The latest taut, thrilling small-town mystery featuring New York State senior investigator Shana Merchant, and set against the beautiful backdrop of the Thousand Islands, is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Ruth Ware.
My Thoughts
A solid entry in Wegert’s Shana Merchant series, fans will eat this up and readers new to the series will want to go back and read the earlier entries, which are:
Death in the Family
The Dead Season
Dead Wind
The Kind to Kill
Devils at the Door
As a New Yorker who spends a lot of time in the NYS North County, I adore Wegert’s settings in and around Alexandria Bay and the 1000 Islands, and this one is no different. Fans of fast-paced, semi-hard-hitting police procedurals will enjoy the ice-covered ride of this story.
Publication Date: November 5, 2024 Published By: Severn House Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
So many deaths . . . An elusive shaman, a creature of the underworld, here to unleash evil or bring justice to the wronged?
San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti has been haunted for years by the hit and run death of her fiancé, Michael Sefton. The driver of the vehicle was never apprehended. The lone witness to the accident spoke to no one and now is dead. Even the cold case detective assigned to the case died before any resolution was found. Every time Julia thought she might be getting close to an answer, each clue led only to a dead end.
Michael, a graduate student, had just returned from an archeological dig in Guatemala when he was killed. But why did he mail his journal to Julia for safekeeping before his return home? What was he afraid of? Why did another graduate student fall to his death on that trip? And now, another man connected with that journey has been murdered closer to home. And the murderer hasn’t finished.
When Julia finally finds the courage to delve into the journal Michael sent to her years before, she learns of the undercurrents, jealousies and anger among members of the group. She begins to understand the pressure and fear her fiancé was coping with and his suspicions of their University mentor who was most likely engaged in unethical and illegal behavior.
But events soon take a darker turn when Julia finds a likeness of the Maya god Hunhau, god of death and the underworld, on her doorstep. A strange man covered with markings and tattoos keeps appearing to her but no one else seems to see him. With guidance from another professor, she’s introduced to a world she never knew existed.
Is the man she sees human? And is he under the sway of the Maya god of death?
Will he unleash evil or is he here to right a wrong done to his people?
Julia must move quickly or her death will be the next.
My Thoughts
Di Marco’s Zodiac series has become one of my favorites. It blends the complexity of astrological research with compelling plots and appealing characters to deliver a mystery just this side of the term “cozy.” There is plenty of humor and quirky characters to be sure, and not a lot of blood and gore, but the intricate nature of the plot is what nudges this out of the cozy category for me.
DiMarco has done her research and delivered a story that includes a fascinating look into Mayan culture while at the same time exploring the often complicated relationships among the humans filling out the story. This one is very satisfying as it brings some closure to Julia regarding the death of her fiancé, which I anticipate leading to some new and equally entertaining mysteries in Julia’s future. Will be recommending this one on my summer reading lists, for sure.
Book Details
Genre: Traditional mystery Published by: Indie Publication Date: May 6, 2024 Number of Pages:370 est ISBN: 979-8989009596 | eBook 9798989009589 Series: The Zodiac Mysteries, Book 5 Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
Connie di Marco is the author of the Zodiac Mysteries featuring San Francisco astrologer Julia Bonatti, a woman who never thought murder would be part of her practice. The Light Beside the Sea is the fifth novel in the series. Earlier books are The Madness of Mercury (Zodiac #1), All Signs Point to Murder (Zodiac #2), Tail of the Dragon (Zodiac #3), Enter a Wizard, Stage Left (an e-book prequel novella), and Serpent’s Doom (Zodiac #4).
Writing as Connie Archer, she is also the author of the national bestselling Soup Lover’s Mysteries from Penguin Random House: A Spoonful of Murder, A Broth of Betrayal, A Roux of Revenge, Ladle to the Grave and A Clue in the Stew. You can find her excerpts and recipes in The Cozy Cookbook and The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook. Visit her website at ConnieArcherMysteries.com. Facebook.com/ConnieArcherMysteries and X/Twitter@SnowflakeVT.
Connie is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Crime Writers Association (UK) and Sisters in Crime.
A new twist on the 1930s English country house mystery.
Embarking on their most daring time-travel experiment to date, Depression-era cop Steven Blackwell and his 21st-century partner-in-crime Olivia Watson travel to the Adirondack Mountains for a Christmas party at one of the legendary Great Camps. Their host, a wealthy New York publisher, has planned a weekend filled with holiday activities, but, as the last guest arrives, temperatures plummet and a blizzard hits. Before long, the area is buried in snow, the roads are impassable, and the publisher is poisoned.
Unwilling to wait until the local police can arrive, the victim’s widow convinces Steven to launch an unofficial investigation. Soon, a family member goes missing and Steven and Olivia discover a second victim. Trapped with a killer, Steven and Olivia race against the clock before the murderer strikes again.
My Thoughts
This is the first in the series I’ve read, so the whole time-travel structure, although well-established, took some time to grasp. I would recommend reading earlier entries in the series to fully understand the concept.
Despite my unfamiliarity with the series, I found a well-written and cleverly plotted mystery reminiscent of Golden Age mysteries featuring a group of people stranded with a murderer. Pouliot creates just the right amount of tension throughout, both related to the mystery and to the relationships of the characters.
The setting in an Adirondack Great Camp appealed to me as a New Yorker and frequent visitor to the mountains. Pouliot captured the beauty of the region and the grandness of the camps themselves.
I was intrigued enough with the time-travel relationships between Steven and Olivia that I will seek out the earlier entries in the series to catch up on the larger story concept. Once done, I will definitely look for new entries in the series. This is one I will recommend and go back to for occasional re-reads.
Praise for RSVP to Murder:
“A classic holiday movie and Agatha Christie novel mashup” ~ Shawn Reilly Simmons, author of the Red Carpet Catering Mystery Series
“RSVP to Murder is Agatha Christie with a time-travel twist. Pouliot supplies us with just what we crave in a great locked-room mystery: a blizzard, closed roads, dead phone lines, roaring fires, and lots of suspects and motives—all set in a luxurious Adirondack Great Camp in 1934. Snap on your seatbelt and travel with Steven and Olivia, you’ll be happy you did!” ~ Tina deBellegarde, Author of The Batavia-on-Hudson Mystery Series.
“A Great Camp in the Adirondacks serves up a sumptuous setting of plump armchairs, roaring fireplaces, and the heady scent of Christmas pines—all begging to be settled into with this thumping good vintage whodunit set in the 1930s. Cleverly plotted with plot-twists aplenty and some time-travel to boot, this immersive mystery is a gem.” ~ Laurie Loewenstein, Author of the Dust Bowl Mystery Series
“Readers are invited to the glamour of the Thirties, where the rich are putting on the Ritz, until there’s a murder to solve. Join time-travelers Blackwell and Watson in a race to the Racines’ Adirondack Great Camp to catch a killer. A clever…and a thoroughly unique must for fans of the paranormal and historical. RSVP today!” ~ Gabriel Valjan, Author of the Shane Cleary Mysteries series
“The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries’ latest installment, RSVP to Murder, combines the thrilling and “timeless” aspects of Jack Finney’s classic TIME AND AGAIN mixed with the wit and charm of a modern, puzzling mystery. Highly recommended for all lovers of time travel, history, romance and wily sleuths.” ~ L.A. Chandlar, Best-selling author of the Art Deco Mystery Series
Book Details:
Genre: Traditional mystery Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: September 2023 Number of Pages: 305 ISBN: 9781685123857 Series: The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, #4 Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads
A former language teacher and business owner, Carol Pouliot writes the acclaimed Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, traditional police procedurals with a seemingly impossible relationship between Depression-era cop Steven Blackwell and 21st-century journalist Olivia Watson. With their fast pace and unexpected twists and turns, the books have earned praise from readers and mystery authors alike.
Carol is a founding member of Sleuths and Sidekicks, Co-chair of the Murderous March Mystery Conference, and President of her Sisters in Crime chapter. When not writing, Carol can be found packing her suitcase and reaching for her passport for her next travel adventure.
When Maddie McGuire lands an archeology internship at the Roman Baths in England, she assumes everything will go her way. But when this college sophomore discovers a severed human ear on her doorstep, she must solve its meaning before she becomes the next victim, or worse, gets deported. Her tentative friendship with young constable Edward and the beauty of the Bath Abbey are no comfort as her aristocratic coworker Simon sabotages her every move. And the danger only increases when she discovers a dead body, both ears intact.
My Thoughts
There are a lot of boxes ticked here for fans of cozy British mysteries. There’s an appealing protagonist, an attractive police officer, an annoying aristocrat, an unusual and clever mystery, and a lovely setting. Lynn makes an auspicious debut with the first in her Cotswold Crimes series.
Maddie is a fun protagonist whose youth and modern maturity will appeal to teen mystery fans looking to make the transition to adult mystery novels. She is smart, independent, and unafraid to stand up for what’s right. I hope to see her in future entries in this series.
Peppered with historical facts about the Roman Baths and the Abbey, the narrative is well-constructed and balanced. The characters are nicely developed and the plot moves along to a twisted ending.
Fans of Paige Shelton’s Scottish Bookstore mysteries and M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series will certainly enjoy this lively debut. I’ll be recommending this to mystery readers.
Praise for Death Takes a Bath:
“A whale of a read! Dip your toe into Death Takes a Bath, and you won’t come out until you’ve reached ‘the end.” A highly recommended page-turner with archaeology, intrigue, an intrepid heroine, a dishy policeman, and . . . a rabbit.” ~ Molly MacRae, Author: The Highland Bookshop Mystery Series
“An exciting page-turner! It captured my attention from the first line and kept me riveted until the final twist.” ~ Avanti Centrae, international bestselling author of Cleopatra’s Vendetta
Book Details:
Genre: Traditional Mystery/Cozy Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: Number of Pages: ISBN: 978-1685122423 (ISBN-10: 1685122426) Series: A Cotswold Crimes Mystery, Book 1 Book Links:Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub | Goodreads
Sharon Lynn was raised in Arizona, but it was living in England as a teenager and every return trip since that inspired the setting of her Cotswold Crimes Mystery series. As a professor of theater, film, and writing she coaches and mentors aspiring artists. Her short stories can be found in anthologies from Malice Domestic and Desert Sleuths. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Please sign up for her newsletter at http://www.sharonlwrites.com and http://www.blackbirdwriters.com.
This summer, staff in the Monroe County (NY) LIbrary System are doing their own summer reading program. The image above visualizes the 311 titles read by staff in the first 2 weeks of the program!
Library staff put much time and effort into creating fun and engaging summer reading activities for all ages, so we thought it would be a fun change to put our staff in the position of winning some great prizes for their reading efforts.
In addition to this being a fun activity, it also serves to model library staff as Readers, with a capital R. This is such an important thing in our communities.
Cambridge University recently published a massive new study that once again demonstrates the power that reading has on success in life. This study also revealed that people, especially teens, who read often also enjoy better mental health.
Not only does reading make you smarter, it makes you healthier! And what better place to access millions of books than your public library. If you’re in the Rochester NY area, check out all the things happening in the Monroe County Library System this summer at https://libraryweb.org
The charming international bestseller about an unlikely friendship between an elderly door-to-door bookseller and a nine-year-old girl that changes his life.
Small-town German bookseller Carl Kollhoff delivers his books to special customers in the evening hours after closing time, walking through the picturesque alleys of the city. These people are almost like friends to him, and he is their most important connection to the world.
When Kollhoff unexpectedly loses his job, it takes the power of books and a nine-year-old girl to make them all find the courage to rebuild their bonds with each other.
A bestselling phenomenon internationally, Carsten Henn’s The Door-to-Door Bookstore is a feel-good novel about books and friendship.
My Thoughts
Charming is an appropriate word to describe this gem of a story. The story is somewhat familiar – older person who is essentially alone makes a much younger friend who transforms their life, picking up more new friends along the way, ultimately transforming everyone’s life. This carries a powerful statement on the power of books to affect and connect people. If you enjoy feel-good, inter-generational stories, this one is for you.
Fans of Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove will enjoy this.
Publication Date: July 4, 2023 Published By: Harlequin Trade, Hanover Square Press Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
He’s a Cold War spy hiding from one of his own. His real identity is tied to a treacherous past associated with American intelligence operations closed down after the end of the Cold War, and his enemy is relentless. All he has to do is change his name. Right? Wrong. Very wrong. Felix has eyes and ears everywhere.
Book Details
Book Title: Reinhardt by Marianne Scott Category: Adult Fiction (18+) Genre: Murder Mystery / Thriller / Spy Publisher: Crowe Creations Release date: January 2023 Tour dates: April 17 to May 12, 2023 Content Rating: PG-13 – Colloquial expressions in dialogue.
My Thoughts
It’s been a while since I’ve read a flat-out, non-stop spy thriller, and I found Reinhardt a spicy appetizer to lead me back to the genre. A relatively short book, this can be easily read in an afternoon, and you will find yourself flying through the pages to get to the end.
From page one, the reader is thrown into a situation that rivals the Mission: Impossible movies, where the action is non-stop. Short chapters pack a punch as we follow our protagonist from Moscow back to the U.S. and on to a new life where he thinks he’ll be able to live in peace and happiness, far removed from the blood-and-guts work to which he was accustomed.
He’s very wrong.
Author Scott offers clever dialog and vivid description to build the tension and drive the plot forward. She makes her protagonist as human as possible despite his sketchy and violent past, while at the same time creating a pretty nasty villain. All of this comes together in an exciting and easy-to-read thriller. Well done and recommended.
Meet the Author
Marianne Scott is the Canadian author of four mystery thrillers and is currently working on her fifth novel, a sci-fi/thriller. She has a BA and a Diploma in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University. She studied creative writing through Conestoga College and Humber College. She enjoys writing workshops such as those offered by Brian Henry, publisher of blog, Quick Brown Fox and One Lit Place, a writers’ hub by creator/editor Jenna Kalinsky. She has an author’s website and blog. She is a full-time writer who lives in the historic small Canadian village of Hespeler Ontario (now amalgamated with the city of Cambridge).
It's All About the Book 