The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng

May 20, 2025

The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng

Leslie Hamlyn and her husband Robert have lived in Penang in Malaya (now Malaysia) for 15 years, the entire time they have been married. But now Robert is ill and wants to move to South Africa for the drier climate. Before they leave Malaya, their old friend Somerset Maugham (Willie, to his friends) and his secretary Gerald came to stay with them for a few weeks. Willie is hiding the fact that he has made poor investments and is in desperate financial straits and needs to publish a new book as soon as possible, while Leslie and Gerald are hiding their own secrets.

I read the author's previous book, The Garden of Evening Mists, and loved it. To my surprise, I loved this one just as much. It was exactly what I was in the mood for. Set between the two world wars, he story was inspired by Maugham's short story The Letter, which he later turned into a successful play that was adapted for film. Themes include race, gender, sexuality, colonialism, love, betrayal, and redemption. Recommended for readers who enjoy historical fiction.

W. Somerset Maugham

The Twelve Saints of Christmas by Karen Baugh Menuhin

February 7, 2025

The Twelve Saints of Christmas by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox and retired inspector Jonathan Swift are called to a country estate just outside Bath to investigate a suspicious death at what appears to be a retirement home for the very wealthy. But intrigue bubbles just below the surface and Lennox and Swift are soon faced with a second suspicious death.

Lennox and Swift return for their 12th investigation among the toffs, with their usual cast of supporting characters, including Greggs the butler and ladies' man, Lennox's spaniel Mr. Fogg, and his chubby cat Tubbs. Unfortunately Mr. Foggs and Tubbs make only brief appearances, as do Persi and Florence, wives of Lennox and Swift. I love a country house mystery, especially one set at the holidays, and this one is great fun like all of the books in the series. I recommend starting at the beginning of the series if you haven't read any of the earlier books.

Yes, there really are baths in Bath, England, although I'm not sure I'd want to go soak in them

Trust by Hernan Diaz

February 3, 2025

Trust by Hernan Diaz

A novel comprised of four shorter books: a novel called Bonds, about the life of a New York financier; the outline of a memoir/family history by a Wall Street investor who believes Bonds is a fictionalized account of him and his wife; a memoir by a woman hired to write the financier's autobiography but later decides to discover the truth about the couple; and a journal by the financier's wife. But what is true, and what isn't?

A complex novel that explores themes of family, wealth, ambition and deception in a non-traditional format. I really enjoyed the first three sections of the book, but I found the last section to be disappointing. Since that section was in the wife's voice, I was hoping for answers to the questions posed in the earlier sections, and while there were some revelations, I mostly found it unsatisfying. Love the cover art, a skyscraper under a bell jar. Five stars for the first 3/4 of the book, 2 stars for the final section. For readers of literary fiction, especially if you enjoyed books like Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell.

Panic on Wall Street in 1929, which figures in all sections of the novel

Those Opulent Days by Jacquie Pham

December 2, 2024

Those Opulent Days by Jacquie Pham

Four school friends from wealthy families met at an exclusive French boarding school in Vietnam. Three are Vietnamese, one is French. When they were in school, they snuck out one night to visit a fortune teller who predicted that one of them would end up dead at a young age. As adults, they live aimless dissipated lives of wealth and privilege. Then the fortune teller's prediction comes true, and one is found dead - is one of the others the killer?

Full cast audio recording told from several POVs. Although it is a mystery on the surface, the story is more about the racial and class tension that existed in the 1920s in Vietnam (aka French Indochina, aka Ah Nam). I knew very little about this time and place in history, so I learned something, which is one of the reasons that I read historical fiction. Strong contrasts between the lives of employers and servants, rich and poor, French and Vietnamese. There are many trigger subjects, including drugs, alcoholism, sexual abuse, murder (a lot of murders), violence against women, addiction, and hopelessness and depression. Sensitive readers should be aware that the story is quite intense at times. Recommended for readers who want to learn about lesser known history, especially the dark side of history.

A mansion in Saigon from the 1920s

The Belvedere Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

July 22, 2024

The Belvedere Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox and retired Scotland Yard detective Jonathan Swift are asked by Lord Belvedere to attend a ball at his fabulous country estate to keep an eye on his daughter's suitor, a man named Jack Dutton who he believes is a a gold digger after his daughter's money. Despite their best efforts, during the ball, someone manages to shove Dutton from the roof of the mansion. 

Another adventure for Lennox and Swift, #11 in the series. The mystery here reminds me of books like Murder on the Orient Express, where all the characters have some connection to the murder victim. Furthermore, he is a shady character who needs to get murdered (no one likes a blackmailer or a drug dealer). I love a country house mystery, and this one ticks all the boxes: a beautiful house, a ball, aristocrats, jewels and ball gowns, snooty rich people who think they're above the law, a locked-room mystery. While you don't need to read the series in order, do it because the books are so much fun. Recommended for readers who enjoy British historical mysteries and dry humor.

Iron Age barrow in the the Cotswolds

A Fire at the Exhibition by T. E. Kinsey

December 17, 2023

A Fire at the Exhibition by T. E. Kinsey

Lady Emily Hardcastle and her maid/sidekick/BFF Florence Armstrong are enjoying the May Day festival in their village of Littleton Cotterell, which includes the inaugural May Day art exhibit. In addition to artworks created by the local residents, there are pieces from the local museum and a few pieces borrowed from Sir Hector Farley-Stroud, plus a priceless volume of Shakespeare's plays. But shortly after the exhibition opens, thick black smoke rolls through the exhibit hall, causing the building to be evacuated. When the smoke clears, several pieces of art (including the Shakespeare volume) are missing. A few days later, following the local bicycle race, one of the riders is found dead.

The tenth adventure for Lady Hardcastle and Flo. There are three mysteries here: the art theft, the murder, and a possible secret treasure. Love the puns, witticisms, and malapropisms between Lady H. and Flo. Fun and relaxing.

Example of a ladies' cycling costume, circa 1920

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar

September 18, 2023

The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar

While preparing an exhibit of Hollywood costumes, a museum curator comes across a gown with a tag that says the designer was Zora Lily. But the curator has no idea who Zora Lily was. Seattle 1924 - Zora Hough's family lives in near poverty, but Zora is a talented seamstress and dreams of designing gowns for the rich and famous of Hollywood, even as she shares a bed with two of her sisters. In the evenings, she enjoys going with her friends to Seattle's speakeasies, where she meets a special man. But then her lover is deported for bootlegging and Zora is devastated. When she is offered the change to work on a movie in Hollywood, she decides to take a chance at achieving her dream of being a fashion designer.

I love fiction about the Golden Age of Hollywood and especially about costumes, design, and sewing (I have a 1920s fashion print hanging in my bedroom). The story does not really have a dual timeline - the museum curator in 2023 merely sets up Zora's story and then winds in the threads at the end. Zora is a very likeable character who makes some dumb mistakes (but if she didn't, there wouldn't be a story) but not so dumb that they can't be fixed. Zora is totally disillusioned when someone else takes credit for her work (like this has never happened to any of us). The descriptions of the speakeasies and the glamorous clothes were wonderful. Historical fiction recommended for readers who enjoy Fiona Davis and Melanie Benjamin.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Greta Garbo wearing one of her iconic gowns

Murder at Ashton Steeple by Karen Baugh Menuhin

August 11, 2023

Murder at Ashton Steeple by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Murder has come to Major Heathcliff Lennox's town of Ashton Steeple. A businessman, Devlin Saunders, is found dead on his balcony from an arrow wound to the heart. He is survived by his not-so-grieving widow, his married lover, and a host of business partners. Scotland Yard asks Lennox and retired Inspector Swift to investigate, but no sooner do they begin than another partner dies under suspicious circumstances. Lennox and Swift hurry to unravel the tangled strings that bind the partners together before more bodies turn up. Lennox also has a personal stake in the outcome.

Lennox's tenth outing with retired Inspector Swift, Greggs the butler, Foggy the golden spaniel, and Lady Persi, Lennox's new wife. I especially enjoy these mysteries since they are set at English country houses. Fun and entertaining as always.

The Cotswolds (exactly what you think of when you picture an English village)

Broadway Butterfly by Sara DiVello

August 1, 2023

Broadway Butterfly by Sara DiVello

Set in 1923 in New York, flapper/model Dot King is a fast-living Broadway girl with several sugar daddies supporting her lifestyle, found dead in her 57th Street apartment. Homicide detective John Coughlin in assigned to the case and immediately sets about identifying Dot's gentlemen friends. Over at the Daily News, Julia Harpman is one of the few women reporters in New York, and the only one covering the crime beat. When it becomes apparent that several influential men were involved with Dot, the police allow the case to go cold. Julia is determined to secure justice for Dot and begins her own investigation.

True crime fiction based on an actual murder case. The story is told from three POVs: the detective, the reporter, and the wife of one of the sugar daddies. The story is well-researched and the author gathered the facts from a variety of sources. I love true crime cold cases so this one should have ticked all the boxes for me. But the story seemed to drag - maybe it was the author's writing style. It was disappointing that the case has never been solved.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Dot King, murdered in 1923, never solved

Hilda Ferguson, Dot's ex-roommate 

Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey

July 17, 2023

Mistress of Bhatia House by Sujata Massey

Perveen Mistry, the only female solicitor in 1920s Bombay, returns for her fourth adventure, this one involving a young ayah (nanny) in a wealthy Bombay household. The young woman is accused of inducing a miscarriage by drinking an herbal concoction. When the patriarch of the household dies under mysterious circumstances, Perveen knows there is more going on than meets the eye. 

One of the attractions of this series is the atmosphere and descriptions of early 20th century India. There is a murder, but it takes a backseat to social issues that include the prescribed roles of women and the lack of legal recourse when someone commits a crime against them, status/social class, and prejudice. While the plots of this series tend to be complicated, I found the various threads of this story to be particularly complex and difficult to connect. There are also a number of side plots, including Perveen's on-going relationship with a young Englishman, issues within her family, and larger subjects such as the re-districting of princely India lands. While I recommend this series, I like this volume the least so far.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

1920s Bombay

A Wreath of Red Roses by Karen Baugh Menuhin

February 9, 2023

A Wreath of Red Roses by Karen Baugh Menuhin

When two drowning deaths occur within a few days of each other at a country house, Scotland Yard asks Major Heathcliff Lennox and retired inspector Jonathan Swift to investigate. They find themselves at an ancient house complete with moat and drawbridge that is raised every night (but no electricity or running water). They are also in the middle of an inheritance struggle, with six illegitimate but generally charming siblings all competing to claim their father's estate. But when a third resident is found murdered, Heathcliff and Swift realize that there is more at stake than a country baron's ancient house and suspect that one of the siblings may be responsible.

Great fun. I really enjoy the characters in this series, easy going Heathcliff and uptight Swift, Greggs the butler who always has a love interest, and Heathcliff's dog and cat, Fogg and Tubbs. The next book will be set in Heathcliff's own village, so we will see more of Persi, Heathcliff's smart wife.

Castle with moat and drawbridge

China Room by Sunjeev Sahota

February 14, 2022

China Room by Sunjeev Sahota

In a rural village in India in 1929, three girls are married to three brothers in a single marriage ceremony. Because of their Punjabi traditions and their eccentric mother-in-law, the girls live separately from the rest of the family in a small house called the china room because of the decorations. They have marital relations with their husbands only when the mother-in-law decides they can, and then she decides which husband can see his wife that night, and only in the pitch dark. The mother-in-law claims that it is so the oldest brother's wife doesn't lord it over the other two wives. None of the young women know exactly which brother is her husband, although they try to figure it out when they serve meals or tea to the men, by looking at their hands and listening to their voices. Mehar, the youngest and prettiest of the girls, believes she has figured out which brother is her husband and begins meeting him in secret during the day. At the same time, unrest over India's push for independence from Great Britain swirls through the village.

In a parallel story set in 1999, a young man arrives unexpectedly at his uncle's house in India. He is about to start university, and is hoping to kick his heroin addiction by separating himself from his home and friends in England. Rather than living in the family's empty house outside of the village, he stays in the china room and becomes curious about its history.

Based on a family legend about the author's great-grandmother (which is supposedly well-known in the family's home village) and long-listed for the Booker Prize, China Room is strongly character driven. The is not much plot (like a lot of literary fiction), and women are treated as servant-wives or sex objects, which is still true in much of India today (see previous review for Honor by Thrity Umrigar). 

The Mystery of Montague Morgan by Karen Baugh Menuhin

January 11, 2022

The Mystery of Montague Morgan by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox is spending a relaxing December day at his comfortable country house with his golden spaniel Fogg and cat Tubbs when his friend ex-Inspector Swift contacts him in a panic. Swift has entered into an arrangement for a broker named Montague Morgan to sell the Scotch whiskey that Swift's wife's family produces at their Scotland estate. Unfortunately, Morgan has disappeared along with Swift's money, and if they can't find Morgan, Swift, his wife, and her father will all be bankrupted. Lennox agrees to help him find Morgan, even though Lennox's wedding to Persi is just days away on Christmas Eve.

They look into Morgan's background and discover that he is a charming and successful rogue, ruthless in business at times. But recently, Morgan found the love of his life and has been making plans to take his lover away to faraway lands with Morgan's ill-gotten gains. But Swift isn't the only one who wants his money - there are dangerous people who want their gold back and will stop at nothing to get it. They track Morgan to his country house and get trapped there in a snowstorm, with a mixed group of people also looking for Morgan. What happened to Montague Morgan? Will Swift get his money for the whiskey that Morgan sold? And will Lennox solve the mystery of Montague Morgan and get to the church in time for his wedding?

Too much fun from #7 in the Heathcliff Lennox series. Wide cast of characters in this one, although the faithful Greggs, Fogg, and Tubbs all accompany Lennox as always (Greggs finds romance in the kitchen, as usual). Next installment coming out Summer 2022.

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore

November 30, 2021

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore

Mirielle West lives a glamorous Hollywood life as the wife of a silent film star. When she is diagnosed with leprosy, she is forcibly confined to the Carville Lepers Home in Louisiana. At first, she hopes her stay will be brief and that she will be able to return to her life in Hollywood soon. But there is no cure, and Mirielle attempts to escape, only to be captured and returned to Carville. She tries every experimental treatment that comes along, even one of her own devising. Eventually, if Mirielle is to save herself and her sanity, she has to redefine the meaning of her life and find a new purpose and sense of community.

I enjoyed this book very much since it is based on a little-known aspect of American history. Mirielle is a fictional character, but the Carville Lepers Home, the only leper colony in America, really existed. Leprosy has been around since biblical times, and was greatly feared since it was believed to be highly contagious. In the Middle Ages, lepers were forced to carry a bell to ring if anyone came close to them, while also covering themselves from head to foot to hide their disfigurement. Years later, leprosy was determined to be a bacterial infection. It is now treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed in the early stages. Very good historical fiction, well-researched and highly recommended.

Carville Lepers Home in Louisiana (no, I'm not showing you pictures of people disfigured by leprosy)

A Baffling Murder at the Midsummer Ball by T. E. Kinsey

September 5, 2021

A Baffling Murder at the Midsummer Ball by T. E. Kinsey

London's best jazz band, the Dizzy Heights, have been booked to play at the Midsummer Ball at a ritzy country house. They expect a weekend filled with rich people, flappers, and champagne. The gig is a success, but just as they are packing up to go home, a driving rainstorm cuts off the roads, the telephone, and the power lines, stranding the group and the family. When one of the family is found dead in a locked room, the Dizzy Heights and their entourage realize that this is going to be a tougher job than they thought.

The second outing for the Dizzy Heights gang, set in the 1920's, with crossover from the Lady Hardcastle series. A locked room cozy mystery, light and fun. Great historical details. I love mysteries set at English country houses.

The Tomb of the Chatelaine by Karen Baugh Menuhin

August 21, 2021

The Tomb of the Chatelaine by Karen Baugh Menuhin

In his younger days, Lord Godolphin Sinclair was an adventurer, a gold prospector, and an arms dealer. Now that he's old, he's not that much better. He has always been ruthless about amassing wealth. He is afraid of nothing, until he receives a mysterious package that has a direct link to his past. When dead bodies begin turning up, he calls Major Heathcliff Lennox and ex-Inspector Swift to his country home, Lanscombe Park, to investigate. Lennox with his dog Mr. Fogg, his cat Tubs, and his long-suffering butler Greggs (who always seems to find a lady friend on their adventures) journeys to Lanscombe Park, to help solve the crime but also hoping to reconnect with his maybe-girlfriend Persi.

I love mysteries set at English country houses! This is #6 in the Heathcliff Lennox series (don't call him Heathcliff!). They are light, cozy mysteries with great characters and humor. Great fun!

Medieval tomb of an unknown lady

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

August 8, 2021

The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey

Bombay, 1921 - When a female Parsi student is murdered, Perveen Mistry, the only female lawyer in Bombay, is determined to get justice for the family. At the same time, Edward, Prince of Wales (future King Edward VIII, the one who abdicates to marry Wallis Simpson) is arriving in India for a four month visit. India chafes under British rule and tensions in the city are high. Perveen isn't surprised when the unrest escalates into riots. Her task is further complicated by racial protests and conflicts between the various religious groups (Parsi, Hindi, Buddhist, Muslim. etc.) as well as the social classes.

Prince Edward's visit to India in 1921 was a complete disaster. There was unrest throughout the country, which is accurately depicted in the novel. I enjoy Massey's Perveen Mistry series, but this one focuses more on political issues than earlier books. Indian independence, the place of women in Indian culture and society, and India's history with England are more front and center than before. The mystery is almost secondary to the political and social issues.

Edward, Prince of Wales, visiting India, 1921

Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown

July 31, 2021

Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown

At his 75th birthday party. retired detective lord Edgington announces that he is throwing a grand spring ball, a tradition that lapsed with the death of his wife. But Cranley Hall, the family home, is run down and in desperate need of refurbishment before the ball. He enlists the help of his grandson Christopher (probably because Christopher is a teenager and will take instructions) which pisses off the rest of the family, since they figure Christopher has been sucking up to the old man. The renovations are completed in time for the grand ball, which starts off great but then one of the family members keels over dead after drinking a glass of champagne. But at least it stops the rest of the family from drinking what turns out to be a bottle of poisoned bubbly. Everyone is a suspect, so Lord Edgington and Christopher set out to solve the mystery before anyone else dies.

Light cozy mystery whose solution is a little unbelievable. I love mysteries set at English country houses, and the descriptions of the house and the party were great. Some of the characters were a little too eccentric. Not sure I'm going to continue with this series.

A society fete in the 1920s

The Monks Hood Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

July 11, 2021

The Monks Hood Murders by Karen Baugh Menuhin

An old reprobate donates a very old and valuable book to remote Monks Hood Abbey in Yorkshire. But the book disappears and the abbot contacts Major Heathcliff Lennox (don't call him Heathcliff) and ex-Inspector Swift to come and investigate. Lennox packs up Greggs, Fogg the dog, and Tubbs the cat, and they set out for the wilds of Yorkshire.

Their search raises more questions than it answers: why did the abbey get the book from the donor in the first place? When was the book last seen? Why do so many people have access to the abbey? It turns out that a number of other people are interested in finding and claiming the book as well. Everyone in the nearby village seems to be related, and when a couple of them turn up dead, Lennox and Swift are obliged to figure out who is murdering the locals and if they are also responsible for the missing book.

A fun light mystery with great characters and wonderful descriptions of the the setting and the food (they seem to be constantly eating or getting ready to eat). This is #5 in the Heathcliff Lennox series and they are such a pleasure to read. Love the covers on these books, too. Highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries.

Abbey in Yorkshire

Death in Damascus by Karen Baugh Menuhin

May 25, 2021

Death in Damascus by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Major Heathcliff Lennox is enjoying life at his country house when his friend former Scotland Yard detective Swift descends on him, demanding that they leave for Damascus at once. Lennox's maybe-girlfriend Persi (the anthropologist he met at Braeburn Castle) needs them to come and rescue her. So Lennox packs up his spaniel Fogg, Mr. Tubbs the cat, and his reluctant butler Greggs (one simply can't do without one's butler on this kind of trip) and heads off to the Middle East. An actor was killed on a movie set although the gun was supposed to be loaded with blanks. Persi is the main suspect and under house arrest at the hotel. But there are many other suspects as well as a linked plot about a hidden treasure map. Plus, Persi's old boyfriend/fiance is also on the scene to complicate matters.

Great fun! Reminds me of the Jeeves and Wooster books by P. G. Wodehouse. The characters are wonderful as are the descriptions of  the early days of air travel. This is the fourth book in the series and I look forward to the next book.

Street in Damascus, one of the oldest cities in the world