Spirits and Smoke by Mary Miley

January 04, 2022

I was so impressed with Mary Miley’s first historical mystery set in 19201s Chicago, The Mystic’s Accomplice. I seldom say the second in the series is even better, but Spirits and Smoke is rich in historical detail. What can be more fascinating as a...

The Maid by Nita Prose

January 03, 2022

While Nita Prose’s debut novel, The Maid, is a mystery, it’s also a character study of a young woman. That’s where it shines, in the personality of Molly Gray, the narrator. She’s a maid, “a nobody”. And, no one ever listens or sees...

Murder on “B” Deck by Vincent Starrett

January 02, 2022

Murder on “B” Deck was Vincent Starrett’s first mystery novel. While his best known book was The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, according to Starrett expert Ray Betzner, Murder on “B” Deck was his first mystery, and the one that...

February Treasures in My Closet

January 01, 2022

Here it is, the first of January, and I”m already rushing the year along by talking about February book releases. It’s an occupational hazard. Librarians are always looking ahead for future releases. So, let’s talk about the new books coming soon. In...

Happy New Year!

December 31, 2021

It’s New Year’s Eve, a day I use for reflection rather than New Year’s Day itself. It’s time to look back at another year. It was another difficult year for many people, as we all tried to stay safe, but still tried to reach out to family and...