Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

July 26, 2025

Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong

Time traveling detective Mallory Armstrong has been stuck in 19th century Scotland for almost a year, working as the assistant to mortician Dr. Duncan Gray, the mixed race illegitimate son of an upper middle class family. She and Duncan are invited to the wedding of his best friend's sister at her fiance's highland hunting lodge. There is tension among the wedding guests and also with the locals, which only escalates when one of the guests is found murdered on the estate grounds. Instead of being a country holiday with friends, Mallory and Duncan find themselves tying to save the groom from the gallows.

The fourth book in the Rip Through Time series. The author gives enough background that this can be read as a standalone mystery if you haven't read the previous mysteries in the series, or if you're like me and it's been a while since you read the last book. Successfully evokes the customs, attitudes, and class distinctions, as well as police methods of the time. I loved how Mallory almost melted into a puddle when one of the characters finally shows up in a kilt. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Recommended for readers of historical mysteries like the Sebastian St. Cyr or the Lady Julia Grey mysteries, or the Outlander historical series.

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

Hunting lodge in the Scottish highlands

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

July 22, 2025

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

After using an illegal spell to create a sentient spider plant, librarian Terlu Pena was punished by being turned into a wooden statue, on display in the magical library as a warning to the rest of the staff not to dabble in the spells that they curated. But she hadn't meant any harm - she was just lonely. Nevertheless, the magic court decided to make an example of her. She stood on a pedestal in the library, frozen in place until one day, she wakes up to find herself in a winter forest on an island with no idea how she got there. Not only that, there is an enchanted greenhouse that is slowly dying, and a handsome gardener who expects Terlu to fix the greenhouse.

Charming cozy fantasy, not exactly a sequel to The Spellshop, more like a companion piece that provides the backstory of the librarian who made Caz the sentient spider plant. Terlu was the only character in the first book whose story was not resolved, so I'm glad the author decided to focus on her in this book. The greenhouses are marvelous creations, as are the green winged cat and the tiny dragons that act as pollinators. Themes are loneliness, forgiveness, and healing. The author has planned two or three more books set in this world. Another beautiful cover, too.

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

A magical greenhouse

We Are the Light by Matthew Quick

April 8, 2024

We Are the Light by Matthew Quick

Lucas Goodgame is viewed as a hero by everyone who lives in his small town, except himself. His murdered wife Darcy visits him nightly in angel form. Lucas desperately wants to reconnect with his therapist Karl, but Karl is also in mourning. So Lucas begins to write letters to Karl, detailing his suffering as well as his nightly communications with Darcy. But then a damaged young man named Eli sets up a tent in his backyard, and they begin to heal each other and the town. 

Not an easy read since it deals with a story taken from daily news headlines. Those killed in a mass shooting aren't the only victims - how do the survivors and witnesses pick up their lives and go on? Themes of grief, trauma, anger, and ultimately love and healing in its many forms. Less about the shooting than it is about the aftermath.

Classic restored movie theater

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

October 19, 2023

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

Lila Macapagal and company are back for another cozy mystery set in Shady Palms, Illinois. Her three godmothers April, Mae, and June (aka the Calendar Crew) are opening a laundromat, which has started a war with the owner of the only other laundromat in the town. Just in time for their grand opening, April's niece Divina arrives from the Philippines, and the aunties figure they'll put her to work at the laundromat to keep her busy. But someone doesn't want them to open and vandalizes the laundromat, and the suspect list is long, since the aunties have offended most of the town residents at some point with their nosiness and gossip. Then disaster really strikes a few days later when Divina is found dead next to a washer.

The fourth adventure in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen cozy mystery series, complete with recipes. This entry is not as strong as some of the earlier books, with a lot of filler about food and meals. The romantic relationships are progressing slowly. There are recipes in the back for some of the yummy dishes. I worked for many years with Mia's mom, and I am so glad to see that Mia is fulfilling her dream of being a writer. 

Mamon cakes, a fluffy chiffon-y cake often made with coconut

The Men Can't Be Saved by Ben Purkert

July 24, 2023

The Men Can't Be Saved by Ben Purkert

Seth is a junior copywriter at a large firm that specializes in branding - not logos or marketing campaigns, but brand identification (think "I'm lovin' it" or "The San Francisco Treat"). After writing a successful tag line for an obscure product, he considers himself to be a creative genius. But then an account executive that he disparaged leaves the firm, taking the company's most profitable account (that Seth also disparaged) with him. With over half of the firm' revenue gone, most of the staff is let go, including Seth. The only job he can find is as a barista, which he considers to be beneath him. With time on his hand, he is left to ponder his life: what does work do to us? who is he without his job? what does it mean to be a Jew? does he have a substance abuse problem or just an addictive personality?

What does work do to us, particularly to men? Seth is an anti-hero whose identity is tied to his job, and when he is let go from his job, he can't quite let go of it. Seth is also obsessed with other things: sex, drugs, his self-perceived brilliance. But he does become more self-aware by the end of the book, also more aware of those around him, able to see others' needs as well as his own. He is assisted in his growth journey by his friendship with an Orthodox rabbi as well as a co-worker. Humorous and a fast read. Reminded me somewhat of American Psycho, but without the violence and killing.

(I seem to be on a roll with books featuring Jewish characters - this is the third book in a row.)

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

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

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

June 29, 2023

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

Marion Brooks has always wanted to dance, but even though she is extremely talented, her family discourages her, pushing her toward a "normal" life as a homemaker and mother, or if she insists on working, as a teacher, secretary or nurse. When she is hired to be a Rockette, instead of being happy for her, her father threatens to disown her. Marion decides to follow her dream and loves being a Rockette, but a serial bomber attacks the theater with dire consequences for her family. The police discount Marion's information because she is a woman, but she is determined to force them to listen to a psychologist who has a theory about the bomber.

Like the author's previous books, this is a well-researched historical novel that centers on a famous building in New York. Lots of history about the Rockettes as well as information about their dance/precision style. There are dual timelines set in 1956 and 1992. Marion's father seems repressive about her life choices, but things weren't that different in the 1970s when I was growing up. Anyone who enjoys dance or crime fiction will enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at Radio City Music Hall.

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

The Rockettes' famous "fall" during the Toy Soldier sequence

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

June 14, 2023

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

A Jewish refugee fleeing the Nazis, a girl and her father escaping El Salvador, and a child separated from her family at the U.S./Mexico border. These are all characters in Allende's latest book.

I love Isabel Allende's writing so was happy to receive an eARC of her latest novel. This one was all over the place, so it was hard to tell what the story was at first or how the various characters would come together. It almost read like a collection of short stories strung together by the threads of being a refugee and losing one's family. An important story, but my least favorite Allende book so far.

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

Refugee children at the U.S./Mexico border

48 Clues Into the Disappearance of My Sister by Joyce Carol Oates

April 20, 2023

48 Clues Into the Disappearance of My Sister by Joyce Carol Oates

Marguerite Fulmer, known to her sister as M, leaves for work one morning and vanishes. Her family, co-workers, former boyfriends, and the police are baffled. M's sister Georgene (G or Gigi) begin collecting clues that the police have missed, dismissed, or ignored. Or that G has hidden from them.

Psychological fiction with a truly unreliable narrator and not a single likable character, except maybe Lena the housekeeper. JCO is a master of this type of ambiguous story. It's not going to appeal to everyone - you have to enjoy having your mind messed with.

Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

April 16, 2023

Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

Luz Lopez and her brother Diego live in 1934 Denver with their aunt. Denver proves to be a dangerous place for both of them, and for all non-whites and mixed race people. Diego is caught with a white girl and forced to leave town to become a migrant worker. After working as a laundress with her cousin for several years, a local lawyer hires Luz as his clerk. Luz frequently has prophetic visions and reads tea leaves to make extra money while dreaming of a better future for herself. She catches the attention of a local handyman who is an aspiring musician, while also fending off the advances of her boss. Luz tries to navigate the confusing time and place where she lives, while waiting for her brother to return home.

A slow moving saga following five generations of a family, moving back and forth from late 18th century American West (aka the Lost Territory) and 1934 Denver. It could have used a little more plot, a little less wandering around and fewer characters. Too many wandering threads that only sort of come together at the end. I expected a better story.

The main drag in 1935 Denver

True Biz by Sara Novic

December 22, 2022

True Biz by Sara Novic

True biz: American Sign Language expression that means really, seriously, honest truth

At the River Valley School for the Deaf, the students are just like kids everywhere: they want to pass their courses, go to parties, and hook up with one another. They also wish their parents, school administrators, and politicians would stop telling them what is the right thing for them. Especially the ones who are not deaf. Charlie is a transfer student with an unsuccessful cochlear implant. Her beauty pageant mother is desperate for her to be "normal" at any cost and pushed for the implant, not allowing Charlie to learn sign language. Austin is another student at the school, from a family with a genetic history of deafness and intermarrying with other deaf people. His world is turned upside down when his sister is born hearing. Eliot is Austin's roommate, whose mother resorted to faith healing to heal his deafness with disastrous results. When the school principal learns that local officials want to close the school and integrate the students into the public school system, she struggles to save the school, the students and her marriage.

There is so much here: coming of age, the deaf community and culture, family wanting to do what they think is best, use of sparse resources for the needs of a small percentage of the population. There is also the history of the deaf community, including standard American Sign Language versus Black American Sign Language (as well as sign language in other countries), plus the many problems with cochlear implants which are well-known to the manufacturers but hidden from the deaf community. Book clubs could spend hours or even multiple sessions talking about these topics.

As a hearing person, I never realized there was so much controversy within the deaf community. I know one person with a cochlear implant and another who was approved for an implant but opted not to get it. The person who did get the implant said it helped in some situations but certainly didn't give them great hearing. Not sure whether they regret getting the implant or not.

A really interesting read, highly recommended.

Cochlear implant

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

December 11, 2022

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Louise and her brother Mark have never gotten along. When their parents are killed in a car accident, they leave a controversial will that gives Mark the house, furnishings, and money, while leaving Louise with her mother's "artwork." After some bickering, they agree to sell the house but first they have to clean out all their mother's junk: dolls, puppets, puppets that look like clowns, paint by number pictures, string art, even a set of stuffed squirrels from when their mother took a taxidermy class. There are strange noises coming from the attic, and the dolls and puppets appear to be moving around. At first, Louise and Mark suspect that the other one is screwing with them (because that's what siblings do). But when a realtor does a preliminary walk-through, she tells them that the house has weird vibes and that they need to do a spiritual cleansing to get rid of the negative energy if they ever want to attract a buyer.

This is a really creepy book that has a cohesive storyline. Horror fans should really enjoy it but they'll probably want to read it in the daytime with the lights on.

(For me, dolls and puppets are in the same category as clowns, monkeys and mimes, when it comes to creepiness. I was creeped out before the actual horror even started. I would have packed it all up in trash bags and driven to Indiana (or maybe Ohio, since Indiana might not be far enough) to get rid of everything.)

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

The television in the novel keeps coming on by itself, and it's always playing the Home Shopping Network selling dolls

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

November 19, 2022

The Mitford Affair by Marie Benedict

The six Mitford sisters are the toast of the London social scene, even in the middle of a worldwide economic depression. Oldest sister Nancy concentrates on her marriage and her writing, while sisters Diana and Unity are caught up in Hitler's fascism and become close personal friends of the Fuhrer, as well as strong supporters of the British Union of Fascists. Meanwhile, younger sister Jessica is a devout communist and runs off to Spain with her boyfriend to fight Franco's regime.

Marie Benedict really captures life in England and Germany between the two world wars. She focuses on the three oldest sisters: Nancy, the best known of the sisters for her writing; Diana, married to the head of the British Union of Fascists; and Unity, Nazi fangirl who possibly had an affair with Hitler. As with all of Benedict's books, research is sound and even readers who are unfamiliar with this time period will have no problem being caught up in the story.

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

Five of the six Mitford sisters

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore

November 11, 2022

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore

Ten years ago, famous magician Violet Volk disappeared in the middle of her stage act. Violet always had magic tricks that seem beyond rational explanation, even to other magicians. No one has seen or heard from her in ten years, not even her sister Sasha, although rumors of Violet sightings run wild on the Internet, creating a cult of Violet fanatics. Unlike her sister, Sasha has led a quiet life in their hometown of Willow Glen, NJ, with a husband, daughter and business. To protect her family, Sasha tries to avoid all the misinformation about Violet. But now the ten-year anniversary of her vanishing is approaching, and the uproar is increasing to new levels, with a podcast series in addition to the annual vigil. As Violet mania intensifies, Sasha begins to wonder if she is losing her mind.

This started out as a decent missing persons story, and I would have been happier if it had stayed that way without the magical realism slant. Although some readers may find it annoying, I liked the combination of narrative mixed with podcasts, emails, and interviews - it worked quite well in the audio format and reflects how we get information in the 21st century. Sasha also talks about the horrible things that people do today, like throwing a Molotov cocktail through the window of her business because someone didn't think she was grieving properly (again, a reflection of the times we live in).

But then the ending just falls flat. Instead of finding out what happened to Violet, the reader is led to believe that she transported to some higher plane or alternate universe, and that maybe Sasha wants to go there, too. This is the second book by Montimore that I've read - the first one was disappointing, but I decided to give her another try. This one was disappointing too. It's like she gets her characters into a situation and then can't figure out how to get them out, without "magic."

A female magician with her male assistant - there are plenty of female magicians out there

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

November 10, 2022

Blackmail and Bibingka by Mia P. Manansala

Lila Macapagal and her friends Adeena and Elena have finally opened their cafe, the Brew-ha Cafe, in Shady Palms, IL, right next door to Lila's family's Filipino restaurant. They are getting ready to participate in the town's annual holiday bazaar, when Lila's prodigal cousin Ronnie returns home to Shady Palms as the new owner of the local winery. But when one of his financial backers dies suddenly after drinking one of Ronnie's wines, Ronnie is a prime suspect and Lila's aunt asks her to help clear his name.

This is the third book in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series, a cozy mystery series centered around a Filipino family restaurant in a small town about 100 miles from Chicago. Lots of food and eating. There are recipes in the back of the books for some of the traditional Filipino dishes. I worked with Mia's mom, Marian, for years at the Chicago Public Library, and I know she is proud as heck of Mia. Very enjoyable mysteries.

Bibingka, a traditional Filipino coconut cake served during the Christmas holidays

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

October 22, 2022

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus, being held prisoner (his opinion) at a small aquarium in Washington state. He knows that his species lives only about four years, and he is past three years old. He's very smart and has learned many things, including reading, unlocking boxes, and how to escape from his tank so that he can go snack on the other inmates at the aquarium (particularly the sea cucumbers). He knows things. Marcellus forms a bond with Tova, the senior citizen who cleans the aquarium at night. Tova's son Erik disappeared over 30 years ago, and Marcellus has answers to some of Tova's questions.

In California, Cameron Cassmore is down to his last few dollars. His former girlfriend tossed him out and he can't seem to hold a job for longer than a few days. He doesn't even have a car to sleep in. After his aunt gives him a box of stuff that belonged to his mother, Cameron is convinced that one of the guys in her senior class is his biological father, and incidentally, the guy is now a rich property developer. He decides to go to Washington state to shake the rich guy down.

I loved this book! It's one of the most satisfying books that I've read this year. It's heartwarming, the characters are wonderful, the writing is fluid, and the plot moves along at a good pace without the wandering off topic that is so common in many books.

And I LOVED Marcellus the octopus! READ THIS BOOK!

Giant Pacific octopus

Tropic of Stupid by Tim Dorsey

October 19, 2022

Tropic of Stupid by Tim Dorsey

When the Florida state park system implements a yearly pass program complete with a passport to collect stamps from each park, Floridaphile and history buff Serge A. Storms is compelled to visit all of the state parks with his pal Coleman in order to get his passport stamped. At the same time, Serge decides to trace his family history after watching a late-night commercial for DNA testing and sending a sample off to the ancestry site. He receives several hits for distant cousins and uses their information to conduct more research, setting a goal to make other people happy. When he keeps crossing paths with a Florida Bureau of Investigation agent, he realizes that they are both searching for a serial killer who is related to Serge. Very closely related.

Serge might be a serial killer, but he only kills people who really need killing. He continues his one-man crusade to right the wrongs that persist in the Sunshine State, taking out a robber who preys on senior citizens and a shyster lawyer, among others. Like a noir detective, he lives by his own code of ethics. Also, he finds women who wear plaid shirts to be a turn-on. While this series might not appeal to everyone, I enjoy Dorsey's out-there sense of humor and Serge's creative "science projects."

Jonathan Dickson State Park in Florida (one of 54 state parks)

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

October 18, 2022

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers

After exploring the unpopulated areas of their moon, Sibling Dex (a well-known tea monk) and his new companion Mosscap (a wild-built robot, made up from parts of robot generations that came before it) head for more populated regions. As they begin to visit small communities, reaction to Mosscap is varied. Most places are excited to meet a robot, but not all of them. As they draw closer to the City, Mosscap continues its quest for its people: what do humans need? If they have everything they want, do they need anything at all? And more importantly, what do Sibling Dex and Mosscap need?

Becky Chambers writes some of the most creative sci fi out there. She goes places other sci fi authors don't even know exist. I love her descriptions of a world that has come back to life after humans did their best to kill it. Crown-shy is Mosscap's term for the way that trees instinctively know how close to grow together, to give each other space to live and grow.

I love Sibling Dex and Mosscap, and I hope there will be more Monk and Robot books.

A post-apocalyptic town like the ones Dex and Mosscap visit

Violeta by Isabel Allende

April 10, 2022

Violeta by Isabel Allende

After her parents have five sons, their daughter Violeta was born on a stormy night in 1920. During her long life, Violeta will live through two world wars, the Great Depression, the coming of women's rights, and two world pandemics. Her father's fortune does not survive the Great Depression, and the family is forced to relocate to the Patagonia region at the southern tip of Chile, a wild but incredibly beautiful area that she will keep coming back to throughout her life. She lives a life of love and passion, wealth and poverty, joy and loss, and with a sense of humor. She recounts her life in the form of a letter to her son, the best-loved person in her life.

Isabel Allende is one of my favorite authors and this one did not disappoint. Violeta lives life to the fullest, the way we would all like to. I had to look up the region at the tip of Chile and it's just as beautiful as the main character describes. Highly recommended.

Patagonia

Homicide and Halo-halo by Mia Manansala

March 14, 2022

Homicide and Halo-halo by Mia Manansala

Lila Macapagal continues to live in her hometown of Shady Palms a hundred miles from Chicago. Since solving the mystery of who killed her old boyfriend, she has been just drifting along, still working as a waitress at her aunt's restaurant, unable to push herself to open her new cafe with her BFF. When the town council decides to resurrect the teen beauty pageant, Lila is drafted as a judge since she won the pageant many years before. When another judge is murdered, Lila's cousin Bernadette looks like the most likely suspect. Although the two cousins have a rocky relationship, they join forces to find the real killer and clear Bernadette's name.

This is the author's second mystery and she wrote it during the pandemic and admits that it's not as light-hearted as the first one. I still found it to be enjoyable. I worked with Mia's mom at the Chicago Public Library for many years and they are a lovely family. We are all so proud of Mia!

Halo-halo is a Filipino dessert made with fruits like coconut, banana, and jackfruit, fruity gelatin, ube (which is purple yam, although I've seen recipes that omitted the ube and substituted mangoes instead) and shaved ice. Traditionally, you're supposed to mix it together before eating it so you get a taste of everything in a single bite.

A dish of halo-halo