All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles

August 18, 2025

All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles

Zeb Wyckham is surprised when his cousin invites him to his country house for a visit, but he arrives to find himself at the family reunion from hell. Worse yet, his ex-boyfriend who hates him for ruining his life is now working for his cousin. Could it possibly get worse? Actually, yes.

A locked-room mystery combined with an LGBTQ romance seasoned with an element of horror. There is plenty of suspense and sexual tension, plus a few steamy scenes. I love mysteries set at English country houses. The cover reminds me of the covers on old Victoria Holt romantic suspense novels (consumed those like candy when I was a teen).

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

See what I mean about the Victoria Holt covers?

Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong

August 9, 2025

Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong

With the dual Victorian fascination with death and Egypt, Mallory and Duncan are invited to a high society mummy unwrapping party. But when the time comes to unwrap the mummy, to their horror, they find not a preserved mummy but a recently murdered corpse. Not only that, the original mummy has vanished, possibly to be sold on the black market for occult medicinal purposes.

Third book in the Rip Through Time series with time traveling detective Mallory Atkinson, this time focusing on the Victorian fascination with death and Egyptology. Even in the 19th century, many scholars felt that artifacts looted from Egypt and other ancient cultures should be returned to their rightful countries. Mummia was an actual trade in Victorian times, based on the belief that medicines made from ground up mummies had magical properties, particularly for male erectile dysfunction (guys have been worrying about their wieners for centuries). Eventually mummia joined the pantheon of medical quackery. You probably want to read the first two books in the series before reading this one. Very enjoyable historical fiction.

A mummy unwrapping party - how weird is this?

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 Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

March 20, 2025

The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

In order to gain the respect of their male counterparts, five female mystery writers from the Golden Age of mystery - Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Emma Orzcy, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh - join forces to solve the mystery of a young English nurse found murdered in Boulogne. 

Disappointing. Loosely based on an event in Dorothy Sayers' life. I usually really enjoy the author’s books but this one was slow moving, and the mystery itself was not compelling. Usually Benedict writes about real women who worked in areas that were normally reserved for men, and yes, the five women writers had to fight against sexism just to get their books published, let alone be accepted by their male peers. But unlike her previous books, I didn’t learn much about the characters’ lives. I guess I expected more from a story about the five major women mystery writers of the Golden Age - there were a lot of descriptions of where they were having high tea and shopping, and what they were eating and wearing (don’t get me wrong, I love a high tea). They just didn’t seem as sharp or clever as a mystery author should be, and Dorothy seemed like she was constantly prodding them along. Loved the cover, although it reminded me of Laurie Notaro’s The Murderess. 

Many thanks to Edelweiss for providing an eARC for review.

Dorothy Sayers

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

The Twilight Queen by Jeri Westerson

November 6, 2024

The Twilight Queen by Jeri Westerson

Will Somers, jester to Henry VIII, is back to investigate another murder, this time at the request of Queen Anne Boleyn. When a dead courtier is found in the queen's apartments, Will suspects a conspiracy aimed at discrediting the queen.

The second book in Westerson's historical mystery series featuring Will Somers. As the king's jester, Will moves among the courtiers and has direct access to the king and queen, and no one questions his presence. A mixture of fictional and real characters, I enjoyed this second installment more than the first book. Will's dog Nosewise also appears in the story. It should appeal to readers of historical mysteries, especially those set in Tudor England.

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

A supposedly contemporary portrait of Anne Boleyn, but there is a similarity in many of the portraits of the time - portraits of Henry VIII's sister Mary look very similar. There is some dispute about what Anne actually looked like - the only thing her contemporaries agree on is her sparkling dark eyes.

Courting Dragons by Jeri Westerson

October 20, 2024

Courting Dragons by Jeri Westerson

Will Somers, professional fool to Henry VIII, navigates the intrigues of the Tudor court. His job is to learn the weak points and secrets of the courtiers, to entertain Henry. But Will has a secret of his own: he is hiding his bi-sexuality, which would be an affront to Henry and would cost Will his job if Henry found out. When someone attempts to blackmail Will, instead of finding the blackmailer at the meeting place, Will finds a dead body.

The first book of a new series by the author of the Crispin Guest historical mysteries. Not as engaging as Westerson's other series, maybe because there is more emphasis on Will jumping in and out of the beds of various members of the king's household of both sexes. Well researched and historically accurate regarding politics and events with fictional characters mixed with real people. The next book in the series comes out in November so I will read that one before I make my final judgment about this series. For fans of historical fiction set in the Tudor period.

Drawing of Will Somers

Christine Falls by Benjamin Black

August 2, 2024

Christine Falls by Benjamin Black

Quirke is a pathologist and a functioning alcoholic in Dublin in the 1950s. Late one night, drunk after a holiday party with the hospital staff, he stumbles into the morgue to find a new body has arrived, a very young woman who supposedly died from a pulmonary embolism. After is brother-in-law, a well-known OB-GYN, falsifies the dead woman's records, Quirke is determined to get to the bottom of the case, unaware that he is exposing himself to powerful outside forces that don't want him digging into the girl's death.

A literary mystery set in Dublin by the Booker prize winning author John Banville. Examines Irish cultural and societal values in the 1950s, including family, religion, and the laws of the time. Christine Falls is the name of the dead girl, not a location. The setting, overall darkness, the brushes with the underworld, the complex plotting, and the main character Quirke will remind you of noir fiction. Recommended for readers who enjoy the complex plotting of Stuart Turton and Stieg Larsson.

Typical morgue in the 1950s

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

An Assassination on the Agenda by Karen Baugh Menuhin

July 16, 2024

An Assassination on the Agenda by Karen Baugh Menuhin

Lady Emily Hardcastle and her faithful maid and sometimes deadly companion Florence Armstrong are enjoying a summer lunch with their good friends the Farley Strouds, when Emily's brother Harry summons them, because their unique skills are needed first in Bristol, and then in London. The heir to the Austrian throne and his wife are due to visit England with a trade delegation, and Harry has heard rumors of a planned assassination attempt that his department needs to stop. He enlists Emily and Flo to evaluate the security arrangements, since who would suspect a society lady and her maid to head up a security team?

Lady Hardcastle and Flo are back for their 11th adventure, an entertaining mystery filled with charming characters, punny language, malapropisms, and dry British humor. It's best to read the series in order to understand the various characters' backstories, but also for the sheer fun of the series. Perfect vacation or summer reading. Recommended for readers who enjoy cozy light-hearted British mysteries.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie - although they survive the assassination attempt here, they are not so lucky some years later in Sarajevo

Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair

June 18, 2024

Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair

It's December 1946, and The Right Sort marriage bureau is celebrating peace and its first holiday season with a New Year's Eve ball. They have a growing client list, and they are in the black financially. The only problem is, all of the venues that they contact are already booked. So they turn to Iris's gangster boyfriend Archie for help, since he always has just the place or a guy with the right connections. But during renovations of an old dance hall, a body is found in the wall of a basement storage area, thought at first to be someone trapped during the Blitz. The truth turns out to be far more complicated (just like the girls' personal lives).

Entertaining historical mystery, #6 in the series featuring former spy Iris Sparks and widowed socialite Gwen Bainbridge. A satisfying plot that includes plenty of snarky dialogue and interesting side characters. We are left with a cliffhanger regarding Iris and Archie's romance. At least Gwen doesn't cry as much in this one. Read the series in order from the beginning. Recommended for readers who enjoy historical mysteries, particularly those set after World War II.

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

New Year's Eve at a London ballroom circa 1940s

A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn

April 8, 2024

A Grave Robbery by Deanna Raybourn

Veronica Speedwell and her partner and lover Stoker are busy restoring Lord Rosemarran's extensive collection of curiosities, when they receive a delivery of a life-sized waxwork figure known as an Anatomical Venus. They wonder who created the figure and its intended purpose, but the mystery only deepens when they attempt to unlock its secrets.

The ninth adventure in the Veronica Speedwell/Stoker mystery series, filled with questionable science, potential scandal, and eccentricity among the aristocracy. The relationship between Veronica and Stoker deepens. Love the covers. Clever, action-packed and great fun as always. I would advise reading the series in order.

An Anatomical Venus - there were also Anatomical Adonis models

The Lady from Burma by Allison Montclair

December 29, 2023

The Lady from Burma by Allison Montclair

Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge operate The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. While they have their share of unusual clients, their most recent client is one of the strangest. She is terminally ill, and she wants Sparks and Bainbridge to find a wife for her husband, so that he won't be alone after she dies. But then their client is found dead in a wooded area. Suicide or murder?

The fifth mystery in the Sparks & Bainbridge series. The mystery is clever, but I have to say, I find Gwen and her crying and her ongoing tribulations, to be rather boring, and I wish the author would write her out of the series. I tend to skim over the parts about Gwen and the lunacy court, her interactions with her nasty in-laws, her unethical lawyers, the greedy board members at her late husband's company, etc. Everybody is out to get Gwen. Iris Sparks is a lot more interesting. 3 stars because of Gwen's constant weeping.

Coleoptera (beetle), which plays a part in the story

The Unkept Woman by Allison Montclair

September 27, 2023

The Unkept Woman by Allison Montclair

Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwen Bainbridge are co-owners of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Following the end of World War II, many people are alone and adrift, and the two women have a talent for matching people up. But Gwen still struggles to retain guardianship of her son, and Iris' undercover activities during the war are catching up with her. When a woman is found shot to death in Iris' apartment, Iris finds herself at the top of the suspect list.

The fourth adventure for Sparks and Bainbridge, this one centered on Iris (who I personally feel is a lot more interesting and doesn't cry nearly as much as Gwen). We do learn more about Gwen's troubles, but there is very little about the agency and their clients. The ending indicates that there will be continuing adventures. I would recommend reading the series in order.

To Kingdom Come by Will Thomas

September 5, 2023

To Kingdom Come by Will Thomas

Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewelyn are back for another adventure. After a radical Irish group bombs Scotland Yard and threatens to destroy half of London, Barker and Llewelyn agree to assist by posing as bombmakers and infiltrating the group.

Historical mystery, the second book in the Barker and Llewelyn series. Lots of colorul characters, including some from the first book:  Mac, Barker's Jewish butler; Llewelyn's Jewish friends Israel and Ira; and Harm the Pekinese. Set during the last decades of the 19th century, incorporating history with fiction. Recommended to readers of historical fiction.

Late Victorian London

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)

Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas

July 22, 2023

Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas

Thomas Llewellyn has hit rock bottom, with no family or friends, unable to find employment, homeless. As a last resort, he answers an advertisement for an assistant to an enquiry agent, which involves some danger. Cyrus Barker is an unusual employer to say the least, taking on cases that need to be investigated discreetly. Shortly after he is hired, Cyrus and Thomas agree to investigate the murder of a young Jewish scholar, found stabbed and crucified in the Aldgate district of London. The crime is stirring up unrest, particularly among the city's lower classes. Even though he knows that there may be some danger involved, Thomas will need all his wits to stay alive.

This is a departure from the usual cozy Victorian mystery, where two spinsters or a couple investigate crimes usually among the middle or upper classes. The tone and atmosphere here are much more hard-boiled, featuring sectors of the London populace that are usually ignored in more genteel mysteries. The main characters are interesting and unique without being overly eccentric. While I suspected the motive, I did not guess who the murderer was, which was part of the reason I liked it. It's unfortunate that prejudice against the Jew and other minorities is still going on, over a century later. The first book in a series. 

Aldgate slums, late 19th century

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

Who Cries for the Lost by C. S. Harris

June 27, 2023

Who Cries for the Lost by C. S. Harris

Sebastian St. Cyr, Viscount Devlin, returns to solve another crime involving the aristocracy. A mutilated body is pulled from the Thames, and when he is identified, Sebastian realizes that he knows the man as a former army colleague. But then it is learned that his friend Paul Gibson and Paul's lover Alexi Sauvage have a connection to the man as well, and Sebastian races to discover the murderer.  The murdered man was a notorious rake who seduced the wives and daughters of a number of noblemen and at first the crime appears to be connected to his nighttime activities. But then other mutilated bodies are found floating in the river that seem to have no connection to the first man. Meanwhile, on the continent, Napoleon's date with Wellington and the British forces draws ever closer.

Another stellar entry into the series, well-researched, historically accurate. The picture of life in Regency England is one of the best things about this series. Sebastian's relationship with his father the earl continues to evolve, as does Paul's relationship with Alexi. The bad part is having to wait another year for the next installment.

Cabrera Island off the coast of Spain, which plays an unexpectedly large part in the story

Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge

April 6, 2023

Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge

Set in post-World War II Paris, American expatriate Tabitha meets budding chef Julia Child, who lives in the building across the street. Tabitha lives with her grandfather and "uncle" and tutors students in French and English while enjoying the Parisian nightlife. When an actor is found murdered in the basement of Julia's building after a late-night party at Julia's apartment, Tabitha feels compelled to find the killer.

Since I credit Julia Child's television show and cookbook with the fact that I can cook well, the title of this book screamed my name (my mother didn't allow anyone in the kitchen while she prepared meals, although I did learn from my grandmother how to boil canned asparagus for 45 minutes until it was gray slime as a special Thanksgiving treat). It's a decent mystery but unfortunately the narrative is slow-moving. The main character has to explain everything in detail, usually more than once. It's more interesting to show the action rather than describe or explain. I started skimming about halfway through. The author does get Julia's voice right - you can almost hear her talking - and there are fun cooking tips along the way (like how to make the perfect mayonnaise).

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

Julia Child in the tiny kitchen in her tiny Paris apartment, circa 1949