An old family secret leads from the streets of Sydney to Italy’s sun-drenched Neapolitan coast, in this immersive historical mystery from #1 international bestselling author Tara Moss
Pacific Ocean, 1907. A girl embarks on a journey to begin a new life far from home.
Naples, 1943. A woman shelters underground from a wartime air raid, praying her husband will return home.
Sydney, 1948. Billie Walker, returned from a stint as a wartime investigative journalist, uncovers a dusty box in her father’s old office whose contents—correspondence with a woman on the other side of the world—just might explain how they all are connected.
Plunged into a perilous search that will take her onto the first postwar luxury passenger ship to sail across the ocean to Italy, Billie finds herself up against a dangerous adversary—someone with a mysterious grudge against her family—as she races to uncover the secrets her father left behind. And as the trail leads her towards two women whose histories may be entwined with her own, she realizes that her father’s Italian secret just might upend everything she thought she knew.
My Thoughts
I need to pay more attention to determining if books new to me are part of series, which is the case here. The author has written multiple series, with this one being the 3rd in the Billie Walker series. I always appreciate the subtle ways a series author seeds the early chapters with bits of information from previous books. Moss does that here, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. Despite feeling lost at a few different places, the story here hangs together pretty well, although it takes some time to connect the angry little boy at the beginning with the full story.
I liked Billie and other recurring characters well enough that I will seek out the earlier entries in the series and also try some of Moss’ other work. She writes very well, balancing dialog and description with decent character and plot development.
Recommended for fans of historical mysteries with a bit of romance.
Publication Date: December 2, 2025 Published By: Dutton Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
It’s Christmas. It’s cozy. It’s culinary. It’s chaos! It’s the fourth book in this fabulous mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.
Description
Have yourself a merry little . . . murder?
Ricki James-Diaz gets the best present ever when her parents arrive in New Orleans for the holidays. Not only is it a chance to catch up, it’s also an opportunity to jog her mom Josepha’s memory about Ricki’s adoption. The details have always been shrouded in mystery, and Ricki understands why when she learns her mother was blackmailed for years, simply for not wanting to lose her precious daughter.
But digging into the past soon lands the James-Diaz clan in water hotter than a big pot of gumbo! When the woman who extorted Ricki’s mom is found dead at her home, Josepha becomes the primary suspect. Now Ricki has another murder to solve, and tracking down a killer in Crescent City is going to take a miracle.
Luckily, ‘tis the season! And Ricki has all the staff at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum on hand to help. Can she prove her mother’s innocence and have the case wrapped up in time for Christmas?
My Thoughts
I’ve read past entries in Byron’s Vintage Cookbook Mystery series so had a pretty good idea of what to expect. I found exactly that with a delightfully presented cozy mystery that includes Christmastime in New Orleans, preparations for Mardi Gras Krewes, lots of delicious food, and of course a whole raft of human shenanigans!
This is one of the cozy series I return to again and again and recommend to other readers constantly. The story is fun as well as suspenseful, with characters who pop off the page. If you have any familiarity with the New Orleans food scene, you’ll recognize some familiar characters who may or may not be based on real people.
Byron is equally skilled at narrative description and dialog, setting scenes that build tension up to the final, white-knuckle final scene. That said, there’s a lot going on here – Ricki’s adoption, Josepha’s extortion, Phyllis’ murder, Olivia’s Krewe Queen situation, Patrick’s temper and mysterious disappearances, and, finally, Mr. Bongle’s thefts. While it’s a lot to keep track of, I found that all of the varied plot lines made me feel that nerve-jangling feeling you get when the holidays are coming and you are NOT ready. If the author intended that, she 100% succeeded!
As I said earlier, this is a series I keep recommending and will continue to do so. It’s fun, clever, and very well-written. While part of a series, this can be read on its own.
Author Bio
Ellen Byron is a USA Today bestselling author and recipient of multiple Agatha (Best Contemporary Novel) and Lefty (Best Humorous Mystery) awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries (published by Crooked Lane), Vintage Cookbook Mysteries (Berkley and Severn House), Catering Hall Mysteries (Kensington, as Maria DiRico) and Golden Motel Mysteries (Kensington). She is also an Anthony Award nominee and an award-winning playwright.
Byron spent twenty-five years writing TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, plus pilots for all the major networks, before segueing into writing humorous mysteries. She blogs with Chicks on the Case, is a lifetime member of the Writers Guild of America, and serves on the national board of Mystery Writers of America. But she’ll always consider her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for the iconic Martha Stewart.
A native New Yorker, Byron is a graduate of Tulane University and lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, daughter, and a rotating crew of rescue pups.
Book Details
Genre: Culinary Cozy Mystery Published by: Severn House Publication Date: November 4, 2025 Number of Pages: 240 (HC) ISBN: 9781448313181 (ISBN10: 144831318X) (HC) Series: A Vintage Cookbook Mystery, 4
An abandoned estate encased in stagnant darkness . . . A haunting legacy intent on silencing all within reach . . .
In 1890, the ominous tolling of the bell announces that death has come to Traeger Hall, leaving orphaned Waverly Pembrooke to piece together the puzzle behind her uncle’s and aunt’s murders. Bound by the terms of her uncle’s eccentric will, Waverly finds herself alone in a manor shrouded by death and questioning the reasons for her uncle’s paranoia. A madness hovers over Traeger Hall, and Waverly–as well as the people of nearby Newton Creek–are ill-prepared for the woe that has descended.
In present day Newton Creek, whispers of a family curse still cling to the century-old, abandoned property of Traeger Hall. When Jennie Phillips takes possession of the estate after her mother’s passing, she is intent on solving the mystery of the Traeger murders. Yet a modern cold case suggests that untimely deaths and mysterious occurrences still plague the property. And as thorny truths surface, Jennie realizes the dark legacy threatens not only the town and the Traeger descendants . . . but also, chillingly, Jennie herself.
My Thoughts
From the first page, I was transported back to my teenage reading years when I devoured gothic romance novels by Barbara Michaels, Phyllis Whitney, Velda Johnston, and many others. Jaime Jo Wright successfully updates all the tropes from those earlier books and delivers a fresh, well-plotted mystery that spans two lifetimes.
I’ve read Wright’s earlier books and enjoyed them very much, but she rises to a new level here. The character development is remarkable, considering Waverly’s story takes place over just a few days. In that short time, Wright creates a character who grows from a sheltered, confused child to a resourceful, determined woman almost overnight.
Our present day protagonist, Jennie, dives into the mystery at Traeger Hall full force and discovers answers and (yes!) a treasure hidden for over a century. She drives this story forward as she untangles all the threads related to the Hall.
Through it all is the Bell (and I capitalize it because it seemed like another character in the story!). Bells were used in past centuries to announce major events like marriages, births, death, and danger. Wright uses the imagery beautifully in both centuries.
Fans of gothic mysteries will burn through this one in a few hours, it’s that good.
Author Bio
Jaime Jo Wright is the author of thirteen novels, including Christy Award-winner and ECPA bestseller The Vanishing at Castle Moreau, Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill, and Carol Award-winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. Jaime has also written two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. She lives in Wisconsin with her family and fabulous felines.
Book Details
Genre: Dual Timeline Gothic Suspense Published by: Bethany House Publishers Publication Date: October 21, 2025 Number of Pages: 336 ISBN: 9780764243806, paperback
Emily Grace has endured the worst loss imaginable. But can she survive a remote manor haunted by more than just memories . . .?
Drowning in grief, Emily Grace has lost everything: her home, her friends, her career. Only one lifeline remains—a job working for an eccentric millionaire. Along with his wife, he’s been building a mansion on a secluded island surrounded by a harsh and unforgiving sea. But when the wife disappears under mysterious circumstances, Emily Grace is hired to finish the project.
Locals believe the house is cursed, but their warnings go unheeded as Emily Grace works to rebuild her life. After what she’s been through, nothing can scare her—except perhaps the attention of a handsome man offering more than friendship. And yet, there’s something strange about this solitary fortress. Accidents. Mishaps. Ghostly whispers through the surrounding forest, footsteps when she’s completely alone . . .
Is there truly a curse or is the ethereal specter in the window an omen of something more sinister?
This spooky standalone from phenomenal crime author Elena Taylor will have readers sleeping with the light on for weeks! With vibes of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, fans of Riley Sager and thrillers with light horror elements will love The Haunting of Emily Grace!
My Thoughts
I adore an atmospheric, spooky, well-plotted mystery read on a stormy night and Elena Taylor delivered that in spades with this one! From the first page to the last, I was turning pages late into the night just to find out what happened next.
The character development, particularly the reveal of Emily Grace’s personal tragedy, is paced beautifully and enhances the overall storyline of the missing wife and mysterious incidents on the island.
I was constantly questioning who Emily Grace should trust, what she should or shouldn’t do. The author strings you along, offering bits and pieces of hints, through to a powerful conclusion.
I had some Paula Hawkins vibes throughout, and fans of atmospheric, haunting mysteries will throughly enjoy this one.
Author Bio
Elena Taylor spent several years working in theater as a playwright, director, designer, and educator before turning her storytelling skills to novels. Her first series, the Eddie Shoes Mysteries, written under Elena Hartwell, introduced a quirky mother/daughter crime fighting duo.
With the Sheriff Bet Rivers Mysteries, Elena returned to her dramatic roots to bring readers more serious and atmospheric novels. Located in her beloved Washington State, Elena uses her connection to the environment to produce tense and suspenseful investigations for a lone sheriff in an isolated community. The third in the series, Kill to Keep, launches summer 2026.
The Haunting of Emily Grace is Elena’s first standalone suspense novel.
Her favorite place to be is at Paradise, the property she lives on south of Spokane, Washington, with her equines, dogs, cats, and hubby.
Book Details
Genre: Suspense with a touch of light paranormal/horror Published by: Severn House Publication Date: November 4, 2025 Number of Pages: 288 pages, Hardcover ISBN: 9781448317370 (ISBN10: 1448317371), Hardcover
A Claudia Rose Forensic Handwriting Mystery Series
Description
Old grudges die hard—some never die at all
Forensic handwriting expert Claudia Rose never expected much from her high school reunion, just the usual mix of mean girls, jocks, nerds, and bullies. But when she stumbles upon the lifeless body of someone she knew, the night takes a deadly turn. As secrets resurface and old rivalries ignite, Claudia finds herself caught in a dangerous game where the past is more than just a memory—it’s a motive for murder.
My Thoughts
This book gave me lots of connective vibes – Pretty Little Liars, Sarah Michelle Gellar (who should totally play Claudia if this series is ever adapted for the screen), and even Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion’s mean girls. All of that is incidental, though, to a killer plot held together by some well-developed and intriguing characters.
High school reunions can be fraught with tension, old fears and grudges, and buried secrets. But, people change as they mature and none of Claudia’s old school friends counted on her becoming a forensic handwriting expert and someone who unravels mysteries for a living. Big mistake!
Those old secrets are bound to resurface, especially when a missing person is involved. Old friends want answers, while some of them want to keep those answers buried.
While the mean girl trope is prevalent here, it’s folded into a more intricate story about old friendships, loves, and all that drama usually left behind in high school.
Lowe does a great job of telling the story – stringing you along to the final, pulse-pounding conclusion. This is a new series for me but one I will surely follow. Lowe has created a likable, smart, and engaging main character in Claudia Rose, and I would really love to see this adapted for television. Lowe’s personal experience lends an authenticity to the character which you don’t always see in mysteries.
Recommended.
Book Details
Genre: Psychological Suspense Published by: Write Choice Ink Publication Date: June 2, 2024 Number of Pages: 314 ISBN: 978-1970181487 (print) Series: A Claudia Rose Forensic Handwriting Mystery, #9
Author Bio
Sheila Lowe is a forensic handwriting examiner, author, and educator with over fifty years of experience decoding the written word. Her nonfiction books include Reading Between the Lines: Decoding Handwriting and her memoir, Growing From the Ashes. In the bestselling Forensic Handwriting suspense series, Sheila’s real-world expertise drives unforgettable fiction as she bridges science and mystery with every stroke of the pen. Her Beyond the Veil paranormal suspense series features a woman who talks to dead people.
1361, York. As the country recovers from the war with France, and whispers that the pestilence has returned to England grow louder, fear is in the heart of every nobleman and commoner alike. Sir Ralph de Mandeville, ex-solider and newly appointed Justice of the Peace is sent to Langbarugh, just outside York, to investigate the murder of Coroner Sir Boderick de Whitby.
More deaths quickly follow, and while these are swiftly dealt with as plague victims, Sir Ralph and his two assistants Merek and Peter soon uncover something altogether more horrifying… A greater evil is at large in the northern wapentakes.
As panic escalates and the lines between plague and murder blur, Sir Ralph is thrust into a desperate race against time. Every shadow hides a potential killer, every cough could be a death knell. Can he unmask a murderer lurking in the terrifying shadow of the Black Death before they’re all consumed by a terror more sinister than any plague?
A gruesomely wicked medieval mystery, perfect for fans of C. J. Sansom, Paul Doherty and E. M. Powell.
My Thoughts
Moray offers a twisted story set in England in the dangerous times post-plague when survivors lived in fear of the pestilence returning and good men could be forced to do unspeakable things by persuasive, megalomaniacal evil-doers.
Moray does an excellent job of conveying the sheer terror people felt when faced with the possibility of the pestilence returning. Protecting themselves and what family that remained was paramount, and Moray communicates that very well. However, he also demonstrates the opposite effect of a world-shifting event like the Plague on people who become so used to death that taking a life becomes no big thing. While this is an historical mystery, the author writes a fascinating commentary on how people respond to a terrible, life-changing event.
Fans of historical mysteries will appreciate Moray’s seamlessly blended research with well-developed characters who will make your skin crawl. The story will suck you in right away and keep hold as you plow through the plot because you have to know what happens and who gets their comeuppance. There are some gross descriptions, but overall this is a good one.
Recommended.
Publication Date: October 17, 2025 Published By: Boldwood Books Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
A vanished body. A deadly bookshop. A country house party full of suspects. Can a living gargoyle and an alchemist decipher the clues before poisoned pages claim another victim?
Dorian Robert-Houdin is used to living his life in the shadows, his existence only known to a few trusted friends. When a dangerous book from his past resurfaces, he follows his closest confidante, alchemist Zoe Faust, from Oregon to England to investigate.
Before he can examine the magical book, Dorian witnesses a murder amidst the foggy lanes of Oxford. But when he takes Zoe to the scene, there’s no body—and no evidence a crime has taken place. Using his unique skills as a gargoyle, Dorian sets out to solve the baffling crime nobody else believes occurred.
When Dorian and Zoe discover a dead man in a bookshop filled with arsenic-laced books, the victim isn’t a stranger—he’s connected to the vanishing crime scene. The trail leads to a country house party where a group of bibliophile suspects have gathered and a storm is brewing. Could the killer be the mercurial Agatha Christie scholar? The prickly literature professor? The secretive rare books expert? With an unscrupulous book thief lurking, can sleuths Dorian and Zoe unmask a murderer before the next page brings them to a perilous end?
A Gargoyle’s Guide to Murder is the eagerly awaited new installment in the award-winning cozy fantasy mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Gigi Pandian. Perfect for fans of the quirky charm and found family of Only Murders in the Building and books by Ellery Adams and Travis Baldree.
My Thoughts
Gigi Pandian’s books just keep getting better!
I have been a fan of the Accidental Alchemist series for years so was thrilled to get an early copy of this one. I was not disappointed. My favorite characters are back – Zoe, Max, and of course Dorian! This time, they are in London checking up on Non Degenera Alchemica, the horrible backwards alchemy book that nearly killed Dorian in a previous book.
As Zoe and Co. get more and more involved with the current iteration of the book, the reader is treated to some wonderful storytelling. I also appreciated the added “country house murder” trope part way through the book, which added a comical element to the story given Dorian’s project of writing a handbook on investigating murder. And the surprise twist at the end? Wonderful!
Overall, this is a solid mystery – well-plotted and paced with good descriptive narrative. I do recommend reading the previous books in the series before you open this one, but this could be a stand-alone read and a nice introduction to the series.
The Killing Stones marks the eagerly awaited return of Ann Cleeves’ beloved detective Jimmy Perez from the Shetland series, and a gripping new investigation with a stunning new setting.
It’s been several years since Detective Jimmy Perez left Shetland. He has settled into his new home in Orkney, the group of islands, off the northern coast of Scotland, with his partner Willow Reeve and their growing family. One stormy winter night, his oldest and closest friend, Archie Stout, goes missing. Ever the detective, Perez catches a boat to the island of Westray, where Archie worked as a farmer and lived with his wife and children.
But when he arrives he finds a shocking scene: Archie’s body, on an archaeological dig site and an ancient Westray story stone with precise spirals carved into it beside him, the clear murder weapon. The artifact, taken from a nearby museum, seems to suggest a premediated murder.
But Perez is so close to the case that he struggles to maintain an objective distance from the potential suspects. He finds it difficult to question Archie’s wife, whom he’s known for years. Rumors swirl about the dead man’s relationship with a young woman new to the island, an artist. With each new lead, the case becomes more twisted and Perez wonders if he will ever find out what happened in his friend’s final days.
My Thoughts
A new Jimmy Perez story? YES PLEASE!
As usual, Cleeves deliver a wonderfully intricate story full of colorful characters, this time set in the Orkney islands versus Shetland. Readers get to know a whole new landscape and set of people, steeped in folklore and emotions.
We are introduced to a new set of characters who are every bit as gritty and real as the folks Perez left behind in Shetland. Plus, we learn more about Perez’ own past and his early relationships. At the core of this one is tragedy and heartbreak, with the theme of family tradition shattered by 21st century technology.
While I had an inkling of the villain about midway, I really didn’t want it to be true. However, this provided a vehicle for Cleeves to write a whole range of emotions for Perez and his friends on Orkney.
I can’t recommend Ann Cleeves’ work enough. She truly is one of the very best authors writing atmospheric, complex crime fiction today. If you haven’t read her books, what are you waiting for??
Superbly done.
Advanced Praise
“Ann Cleeves’s elegance as a wordsmith, the ingenuity of her plots, and the depth of her characters can be matched by few writers. In The Killing Stones she brings back the beloved Jimmy Perez in a tale that highlights the entire spectrum of her formidable talents… This novel is more than worth every minute you spend with it.”—David Baldacci, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“The Killing Stones is classic Ann Cleeves: a complex mystery, beloved characters, and a setting so vivid you can feel the chill of wind and rain on your face.”
—Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Guests
Publication Date: September 30, 2025 Published By: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
A festive mystery perfect for fans of Murder on the Christmas Express and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot’s Christmas
A village of secrets.
Yorkshire, 1952. Christmas is fast approaching when a dead stranger is found lodged up the chimney of Holly House in the snow-covered village of Elderby. Is he a simple thief, or a would-be killer?
A mystery that can’t be solved.
Inspector Frank Grasby is ordered to investigate. But as is often the way for him, things don’t go according to plan.
A Christmas to remember.
When the local doctor’s husband is murdered, Grasby begins to realize that everyone in Elderby is hiding something.
And if he can’t uncover the truth soon, the whole country will pay a dreadful price…
My Thoughts
I started this expecting the usual clever country house murder mystery and instead got a rough and tumble few days that could have shook the world. The writing reminded me of old Golden Age dialect-driven mysteries, with the lovable screw-up main character who turns out to be much more than you initially think.
Meyrick does a wonderful job of describing the Yorkshire moors – snow, sleepy policemen, irritating peers, and more snow – but it’s the story that shines here.
I expected the country house thing and instead got a bit of The Secret Adversary and The Thirty Nine Steps crossed with Albert Campion (if Campion were a vicar’s son). The relationship between Frank and Deedee was written with a nice blend of comedy and drama.
On the whole, this will appeal to readers who appreciate a good, old-fashioned, save-the-world whodunit told with a bit of whimsy.
Recommended.
Publication Date: October 7, 2025 Published By: Poisoned Pen Press Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
A puzzling mystery pulls the thieving Fitzglen family back to a shocking crime committed in the time of Catherine the Great in this third instalment of the spellbinding Theatre of Thieves gothic mystery series, set in Victorian England.
London, 1909. The Fitzglens combine running London’s finest theatre with a very profitable side-line in stealing. But while they might be thieves, they still have principles. They never pinch anything their victim couldn’t afford to lose.
When a stranger approaches Jack Fitzglen after a performance, claiming that a Fitzglen has committed a grave crime in his village in faraway Russia, Jack knows exactly who’s to blame: the unpleasant Saintly Simeon, who was chucked out of the family for breaking their code.
Simeon has stolen three valuable, and oddly frightening, Stone Heads, the likenesses of children who vanished over a century ago. The Heads were locked away from the world in a remote Russian monastery . . . though whether to protect the priceless sculptures, or to protect the villagers from the Heads themselves, no one can say.
Jack joins forces with fellow actor Viola Gilfillan to retrieve the stolen goods and put things right. But as they investigate, peeling the layers of history back to the treacherous court of Catherine the Great herself, the ominous power of the Stone Heads begins to draw them down into a darkness from which they may never be able to escape . . .
This unsettling gothic historical mystery from acclaimed British author Sarah Rayne will appeal to fans of Daphne du Maurier, Laura Purcell, Rebecca James, Sarah Waters and Stuart Turton.
My Thoughts
Sarah Rayne keeps coming up with fascinating plots and this one is just spectacular. We’re once again immersed in the world of the FitzGlen family of actors/thieves who only “filch” from people who can afford it. Here we are treated to an origin story that explains how the family came to own the Amaranths Theatre where they perform their popular plays. The story of patriarch Harry FitzGlen’s relationship with Catherine the Great is done with Rayne’s usual one-two punch of softness (their relationship) then a quick jab to the throat (murder & court intrigue).
Rayne excels in writing creepy characters that make your skin crawl and Brother Quintus is no exception. He’s wily, deceitful, sly, and most certainly unhinged. His role in the plot to murder Peter III and the follow up to that is shiver-inducing.
I continue to be stymied by the fact that so many of my American friends don’t know about this fabulous author. All of her series are well-researched and skillfully written, and most of them bone-chillingly scary. The Face Stealer is one of the best horror mysteries I’ve read in a while.
Recommended for those looking for a clever, knuckle-whitening story of historical murder and mayhem.
Publication Date: August 5, 2025 Published By: Severn House Thanks to Netgalley for the review copy
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