It’s the Christmas season in the charming small town of Starport Cove, but amid shopping for gifts, decorating, baking sugar cookies, and organizing the Christmas Bazaar, the discovery of a body is not the holiday event that anyone expected. When antique store owner Milton Cenford is found dead in a suit of armor, amateur sleuth Tarsey Quinston is determined to find the killer.
As quirky visitors arrive in town and create more questions than answers, Tarsey finds herself investigating rumors of a missing historic diary penned by a First Lady from Starport Cove and looking into paranormal activity.
Will the discovery of a mysterious hidden passageway and an encounter with a ghost lead Tarsey and her intuitive cat Silver down the path to danger? Or will they finally unveil the identity of the killer?
My Thoughts
This second entry in the Pet Momma cozy mystery series is a fun, quick read. The author has made an excellent start on developing characters that readers will want to follow as more books are written in the series.
The writing here is well-done, with a nicely paced plot, witty dialog, appealing characters, and a cracking good mystery. Fans of cozy mysteries, especially ones with a paranormal overlay, will thoroughly enjoy this one.
Publication Date: December 15, 2023 Published By: The Author Thanks to Book Sirens for the review copy
12-year-old Alexander Buchan was once content, training as a falconer at Strathbogie Castle in Huntly. But when his Earl sends him to Edinburgh to the court of the newly arrived Mary, Queen of Scots, the boy finds himself lured into a world of intrigue, terror and treachery. Alexander knows right from wrong, but how can he hope to outwit his master’s murderous messenger? Surely no one can defy an Earl – especially one whose wife is rumored to be a witch!
Soon, more than the boy’s own life is at stake: his friend Lizzie is arrested and the angry clouds of Reformation Scotland gather around the young Queen.
It seems that Alexander must spy – or die.
About the Author
Barbara Henderson has lived in Scotland since 1991, somehow acquiring an MA in English Language and Literature, a husband, three children and a shaggy dog along the way. Having tried her hand at working as a puppeteer, relief librarian and receptionist, she now teaches drama part-time at secondary school. Writing predominantly for children, Barbara is the author of the Highland Clearances novel Fir for Luck, The Crystal-Kite, the eco-thriller Wilderness Wars, the Robert Burns smuggling novella Black Water, the medieval Siege of Caerlaverock, the Viking adventure The Chessmen Thief and the Jacobite adventure The Reluctant Rebel. Her latest book is Rivet Boy, about a young Victorian breadwinner employed on the construction site of the iconic Forth Bridge. She has twice won the Historical Association’s Young Quills Award. Her only title for adults to date is the immigration memoir Scottish by Inclination. Barbara lives in Inverness in the Scottish Highlands.
My Thoughts
This is a well-written and entertaining story that could appeal to middle grade readers, especially those fascinated by the period of history presented here. I don’t know how much young students will know about Mary, Queen of Scots and her accurate portrayal in history, but that knowledge isn’t necessary here to pique interest. Instead, we have a young male protagonist who is smart, clever, and appealing, displays extraordinary honesty and bravery, and is rewarded for it.
The action starts almost immediately and doesn’t stop until the end, which is a pace that will keep kids reading. The vocabulary is appropriate to the age level. Reading this could easily prompt kids to investigate falconry, tall ships, and even embroidery.
An more enticing cover would surely encourage kids to pick this one up.
Publication Date: April 11, 2024 Published By: Luath Press Thanks to Book Sirens for the review copy
Discover tantalizing recipes, spine-tingling stories, and historic photos from the most notoriously haunted locations across America in this fun and fascinating cookbook. Paranormal investigator and Kindred Spirits co-host Amy Bruni leads you through eerie hotels, haunted homes, hellish hospitals, and spooky ghost towns, giving you stories and a recipe from each place.
Whether you’re in the mood for Lizzie Borden’s meatloaf or want to serve up spooky prison stories along with sugar cookies from Alcatraz, Food to Die For is your guide to ghoulish gastronomy.
One of America’s favorite ghost hunters, Amy Bruni takes you to mysterious hotels, eerie ghost towns, and possessed pubs in this delightfully sinister collection of stories and recipes. Each of the nearly 60 locations in Food to Die For includes:
Vintage photographs and charmingly creepy stories rooted in history
A noteworthy recipe associated with the people or place
Full-color, captivating, and hauntingly styled food photos to inspire a killer kitchen experience
This terrifyingly tasty cookbook will bewitch anyone who:
Has a taste for the paranormal and a hunger to try new foods
Loves history, travel, and culinary curiosities
Enjoys entertaining guests in unique and memorable ways
Would get goosebumps making a recipe written 300 years ago
History buffs, thrill-seekers, and foodies will all get shivers seeing the past come to life with every enchanted recipe and delicious tale from Food to Die For.
My Thoughts
Creepy and delicious – the best words I can think of to describe this highly unusual and well-written book. Amy Bruni brings years of experience exploring the paranormal together with historic recipes that represent some of the most haunted locations in the country to produce one of the most entertaining cookbooks I’ve read this year.
Bruni is a born storyteller and communicates the ghost stories associated with the chosen locations in a way that induces shivers and delight at the unusual details, such as Marilyn Monroe appearing in mirrors at the Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles. The accompanying recipes are carefully chosen to complement the ghost story and include some really delicious offerings.
Fans of the paranormal will thoroughly enjoy this as will cooks and bakers who enjoy a little scare with their culinary experiences.
Advance Praise
“It turns out that Amy Bruni’s curiosity and creativity don’t just make for great TV, they make for a great meal as well… Food to Die For is the ultimate companion piece for anyone who has tuned in to her many incredible adventures. All others will just have to settle for an unbelievably great cookbook.” — chef Robert Irvine, host of Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible.
“This deliciously stylish cookbook will have you longing for a dark and stormy night. Taking us on a culinary tour through America’s paranormal past, Amy sets a sumptuous table where more than the eggs are deviled. An indispensable collection of recipes for this life and the next.” —Josh Gates, explorer and host of Expedition Unknown
“Amy Bruni does something that almost feels like magic in this day and age: She pairs fascinating historical storytelling with real, visceral context. The results, I’m happy to report, are absolutely delicious!” —Aaron Mahnke, creator of the Lore podcast
Publication Date: July 30, 2024 Published By: Harper Celebrate Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
Embark on a gripping journey through a 48,000-word narrative woven from diverse threads of drama, mystery, and human connection. From a web of small-town secrets to a diner robbery gone wrong, the text explores the profound impacts of choices on sixteen compelling characters. The Nine Minute Diner captures the haunting reverberations of their decisions, revealing the intricate dance between fate and human agency. Suspenseful twists and poignant reflections unravel a rich tapestry of lives colliding, creating an immersive experience that leaves readers spellbound. In this novella-length narrative, every word adds depth to a narrative that explores the profound consequences of a desperate act.
My Thoughts
Mr. Kunowski was kind enough to send me a pre-pub version of his latest novella, which does not seem to be available yet. However, I will tell you this book had me captivated from the start. Each chapter tells the personal story of an individual caught up in a horrendous mass shooting incident in a diner. I went into this thinking I knew how this would unfold, but Kunowski takes you in unexpected directions throughout the narrative.
As I was reading and experiencing the different emotions and reactions of the people in the diner, I kept thinking that this would make a fabulous on-stage production. The writing is evocative and emotional, conveying the fear, horror, shock, surprise, and inevitability experienced by the diners.
Violence finds its way to old Hollywood in the eleventh Josephine Tey mystery, perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Jacqueline Winspear.
September 1939, and the worries of war follow Josephine Tey to Hollywood, where a different sort of battle is raging on the set of Hitchcock’s Rebecca.
Then a shocking act of violence reawakens the shadows of the past, with consequences on both sides of the Atlantic, and Josephine and DCI Archie Penrose find themselves on a trail leading back to the house that inspired a young Daphne du Maurier – a trail that echoes Rebecca‘s timeless themes of obsession, jealousy, and murder.
My Thoughts
Upson’s Josephine Tey series has been hit or miss for me over the years, but I picked this one up because it focuses on one of my favorites fictional tales, Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier.
I was not disappointed.
The action here follows two separate but connected storylines – one in England with detective Archie Penrose and one in America with Josephine. Both stories feature Upson’s trademark clever plotting and witty dialog, although I was more engaged by the story in America on the set of Alfred Hitchcock’s film.
Upson does a good job of keeping the action moving despite a very large cast of characters, and she neatly ties up loose ends with some eyebrow raising twists in the last couple of chapters.
Having read a few of this series already, I was familiar with some of the characters, and that definitely helped me follow the plot. If you haven’t read this series before, I suggest you not start here but go to the library and start at the beginning.
Publication Date: November 7, 2023 Published By: Penguin Random House Thanks to the Rochester Public Library for the book
Lucy, a spirited French-Ojibwe orphan, is sent to the stormy waters of Lake Superior to live with a mysterious family of lighthouse-keepers—and, she hopes, to find the legendary necklace her father spent his life seeking…
Selena Lucy Landry (named for a ship, as every sailor’s child should be) has been frightened of the water ever since she lost her father at sea. But with no one else to care for her, she’s sent to foster with the Martins—a large Anishinaabe family living on a lighthouse in the middle of stormy Lake Superior.
The Martin family is big, hard-working, and close, and Lucy—who has always been a dreamer—struggles to fit in. Can she go one day without ruining the laundry or forgetting the sweeping? Will she ever be less afraid of the lake?
Although life at the lighthouse isn’t what Lucy hoped for, it is beautiful—ships come and go, waves pound the rocks—and it has one major advantage: It’s near the site of a famous shipwreck, a shipwreck that went down with a treasure her father wanted more than anything. If Lucy can find that treasure—a priceless ruby necklace—won’t it be like having Papa back again, just a little bit?
But someone else is hunting for the treasure, too. And as the lighthouse company becomes increasingly skeptical that the Martins can juggle Lucy and their duties, Lucy and the Martin children will need to find the necklace quickly—or they may not have a home at all.
The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry is a timelessly sweet tale of found family from rising Ojibwe voice Anna Rose Johnson, author of NPR Best Book of the Year The Star That Always Stays. Perfect for fans of L.M. Montgomery and Karina Yan Glaser!
My Thoughts
Reading this lovely book took me back to my early reading days with Laura Ingalls Wilder and Louisa May Alcott and to my early librarian days with the Dear America series. There was definitely that vibe around this. The story is fanciful and features the familiar trope of young child left alone after terrible tragedies who finds a new and fruitful life.
I found the main character appealing as she tried so hard to mask her fears and insecurities with imagination (“I am a Princess of Acadia!”) The quest she set for herself in finding the lost necklace was a good element to move the story along, and the lighthouse setting was wonderful. The star here, though, is the family dynamic. The Martin family is big and loud but also loving and responsible. Readers will want to be a Martin!
There were many touchstones in this story for me (a 61 year old reader), and I hope this will appeal to middle grade readers looking for adventure. This could also spark some interest in Great Lakes history, especially those who live on the shores of those lakes.
“Lucy Landry is a charming and fanciful heroine reminiscent of Anne Shirley, who reminds us that even in dark times, we can be a light for others.”—Alyssa Colman, author of Bank Street Best Book of the Year The Gilded Girl
Publication Date: March 5, 2024 Published By: Holiday House, Peachtree, Pixel+Ink Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
From the internationally bestselling author of I Am Not Who You Think I Am—a New York Times Thriller of the Year—comes Lilith, an incendiary powerhouse of a novel that strikes straight at the wounded heart of America.
Mother. Hero. Villain. Killer.
After her son Lydan suffers traumatic injuries in a school shooting, single mom Elisabeth Ross grows enraged at men in power. If they won’t do anything to help end this epidemic of violence, she will. Believing it’s her destiny, she sets out to awaken the world to the cowards these men are and commits her own shocking act of violence.
Going by the name Lilith—the first wife of Adam who fled Eden rather than serve a man—she posts a video of her crime that reverberates throughout society.
Praised by some, demonized by others, and hunted by the FBI and vigilantes alike, Elisabeth must keep her identity a secret as she tries to care for her son.
As events take startling twists, Elisabeth begins to question her act of violence and the very roots and mythology of violence itself. Was her act justified or has she become the monster that the original Lilith was accused of being?
As the FBI draws closer, and Lydan starts to display odd, terrifying behavior, Elisabeth plots to avoid capture and keep her son safe at all costs, fearing she’ll never escape what she’s done without losing her son forever.
Written with Rickstad’s singular command of language, human insight, and unnerving suspense, Lilith is a tale of our times. Tragic and profound, it echoes in the mind and lingers in the blood.
My Thoughts
This exploration of a mother’s response to her son being injured in a school shooting made me feel a lot of things. I don’t think there’s a parent out there who hasn’t thought about how they would respond if their child was injured or killed in a senseless act of violence like a mass shooting. The one reaction that no one talks about publicly is meeting violence with violence and exacting revenge on the people who make these mass killings possible. I’ve seen several reviews call this book a “punch to the gut.”
It certainly is that.
It is also a brilliant story of an anti-hero who does the things others only dream about in their darkest dreams. In the hands of a less-capable author, this would be a melodramatic mess but Rickstad turns this into an Everywoman story that tensely explores the journey of a mother who is hurt, terrified, and very, very angry.
I would describe my reaction to this book as a “hammer to the head and heart.” It challenges the reader’s belief system and prompts serious thinking about how we as individuals and collectively as a civilization respond to horrific violence. I am left conflicted and would welcome discussion with others. That’s saying A LOT because I am a solitary reader. I’ll be recommending this for book clubs for sure.
Publication Date: March 19, 2024 Published By: Blackstone Publishing Thanks to Netgalley and the Blackstone for the review copy
Strange and terrifying things are suddenly happening in a mysterious town where people are disappearing and changing into characters from the Grimm fairy tales.
Twins Willow and Jake Grimm are not prepared for the bizarre gadgets and scary changes in their new home of New Marburg, the location of the top-secret Think Tank where their parents now have jobs as scientists. In this town, people jetpack to work, robots direct traffic, and senior citizens duel with laser swords.
Yet nothing compares to what happens the day after lightning strikes the twins’ house. Their school building transforms around them, becoming a medieval castle—complete with moat, drawbridge, and a dangerous giant who looks strangely like the school’s overly aggressive hall monitor.
Barely managing to escape before a massive beanstalk lifts the castle above the clouds, Willow and Jake learn that their ancestors, the original Brothers Grimm, were more than storytellers. They were Grimmwalkers, able to travel from our universe to Grimmworld: the universe where all fairy tales are born.
Somehow, Willow and Jake have been transported to Grimmworld as well. But before the twins can figure out how to get back to their own universe, they discover that their best friends, Hank and Pearl, have morphed into the fairy tale characters Hansel and Gretel and been captured by a candy-obsessed witch deep in the Cursed Forest.
Now, aided by a mysterious wizard with shimmering golden eyes and a befuddled, talking naked mole-rat named Chet, the twins must trust in each other, believe in themselves, and find the courage to face their darkest fears in order to save their friends, return to their family, and maybe—just maybe—save the world.
My Thoughts
The middle grade adventures coming out this spring are some of the best I’ve seen in years, and this one adds a lot of fuel to an already hot list. I was completely taken in by the imaginative blend of 21st century science and traditional Grimm fairytales in this fast-paced and fascinating mystery-adventure.
The modern day Grimms, Willow and Jake, are as appealing a set of characters as I’ve come across. They display the best and worst of sibling rivalry and support – very real life. The theme of family devotion and strength runs throughout the story, leading up to an ending that points to more adventures to come.
Middle grade readers who are familiar with Grimm’s Fairy Tales will thoroughly enjoy this 21st century upgrade.
Well done!
Publication Date: March 5, 2024 Published By: Shadow Mountain Publishing Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
Buckle up for a wild ride with Lili Gray, a ten-year-old with a super-secret power so bizarre, it could either be the most cringe-worthy thing ever or the coolest trick up her sleeve. Lili’s about to learn that what makes you different can also make you mighty.
The plot thickens with a twisty mystery—Lili’s dad has vanished into thin air! Is he just pulling the world’s longest coffee break, or is something more sinister afoot? Lili’s on the case, and she’s got her eyes on her stepmom, who Lili suspects is the supervillain behind it all—though she might be more misunderstood than truly wicked.
But this isn’t just a tale about Lili and her hush-hush hilarity. It’s sprinkled with a squad of quirky characters: a crafty uncle who’s got his eye on the prize (a.k.a. Lili’s special power), and a best buddy who’s the brain to Lili’s impulsive—well, let’s just say she’s the muscle of the operation.
Together, they’ll navigate a maze of laughs, life lessons, and the occasional laser beam of awkwardness. “Lili Gray” is a salute to the power of friendship, the ties that tangle in family, and the discovery that sometimes the things we’re most nervous to show the world are the ones that make us shine. Perfect for anyone who’s ever felt a little out of place, this story is a heartwarming reminder that true greatness comes in all sorts of surprising packages.
My Thoughts
Middle grade readers will absolutely cackle over this hilarious story. It has all the things kids love – super heroes, villains, triumph over evil (and snotty, stupid bullies), and a super power that is – ah – unusual to say the least.
The author writes in a colorful, comfortable, and accessible way that will appeal to young readers. As I read this, I was reminded often of the first time I read the Captain Underpants series and I predict this one could rise to that level it’s so appealing.
“Sherlock Holmes has lost his dog? We have bigger crimes to solve. Go find him yourself!” That’s what the Los Angeles Police Department told Basil Rathbone. The City Pound ridiculed him as well.
Asta, the dog from the popular Thin Man series, has also vanished, and production for his next film is pending. MGM Studios offers a huge reward, and that’s exactly what young private detectives Babs Norman and Guy Brandt need for their struggling business to survive. Celebrity dognapping now a growing trend, Basil also hires them to find his missing Cocker Spaniel.
The three concoct a plan for Basil to assume his on-screen persona and round up possible suspects, including Myrna Loy and William Powell; Dashiell Hammett, creator of The Thin Man; Nigel Bruce, Basil’s on-screen Doctor Watson; Hollywood-newcomer, German philanthropist and film financier Countess Velma von Rache, and the top animal trainers in Tinseltown. Yet everyone will be in for a shock when the real reason behind the canine disappearances is even more sinister than imagined.
Jump into Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles, Book One of the Babs Norman Golden Age of Hollywood Mystery series, Finalist in the Killer Nashville Claymore Awards for Comedy and First Prize winner in the Chanticleer Review’s Mark Twain Awards for Comedy and Satire.
Get ready for its sequel, Bye, Bye, Blackbird, featuring Humphrey Bogart and the cast of The Maltese Falcon.
My Thoughts
If the madcap detective films of the 1930s had a bookish sister, it would be this book. Crowens dives deeply into the Hollywood that produced those iconic films starring William Powell, Myrna Loy, Nigel Bruce, and Basil Rathbone and overlays them with a clever, sassy mystery featuring as snarky a detective as I’ve ever encountered.
Crowens writes with abandon, deliciously describing the naughty and often hilarious goings-on behind the scenes in Tinseltown. I was reminded of one of my all-time favorite series of books by George Baxt which feature mysteries surrounding Hollywood royalty. Those are mostly out of print and hard to come by, so I am happy to see a 21st century author plumbing the depths of Old Hollywood for some fun mysteries.
This is a quick read that will appeal to fans of cozy and historical mystery stories.
Book Details: Genre: Golden Age of Hollywood Humorous Mystery Published by: Level Best Books Publication Date: March 2024 Number of Pages: 299 Series: A Babs Norman Hollywood Mystery, Book 1 Book Links:Amazon | Goodreads
Elizabeth Crowens has worn many hats in the entertainment industry and has a popular Caption Contest on Facebook. She has three award-winning alternate history novels. Awards include 2020 Leo B. Burstein Scholarship from the MWA-NY Chapter, New York Foundation of the Arts grant, an Eric Hoffer Award, Honorable Mention in the Glimmer Train Awards, and two grand prize and five first prize Chanticleer Awards, including Hounds of the Hollywood Baskervilles, the first in her Babs Norman Hollywood series, which is also a Killer Nashville Claymore Awards finalist and part of her three-book publishing deal with Level Best Books
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