The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman

June 05, 2023

Before I dive into the review of Katharine Schellman’s The Last Drop of Hemlock, I just want to mention her cover artist. The covers for the two books in the Nightingale series are just stunning, and this one is no exception. Vivian Kelly and her sister,...

A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao

June 04, 2023

If you’re looking for an exotic debut mystery that explores the evils of colonialism, you can’t go wrong with Nilima Rao’s A Disappearance in Fiji. Rao’s Author’s Note explains her background as a Fijian Indian Australian. Even with her...

The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman

May 27, 2023

Alison Goodman’s Regency mystery, The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies, starts out a little slow for me, but once it picked up speed, the characters and difficult cases keeps the story moving. Goodman’s notes say she’s inspired by Georgette...

The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong

May 23, 2023

I liked Kelley Armstrong’s second Rip Through Time novel, The Poisoner’s Ring, even more than I liked the first one. Armstrong examines women’s roles in 1869 Edinburgh, contrasts women’s rights in Scotland with that of England at the time, and...

The Tumbling Girl by Bridget Walsh

May 22, 2023

Honestly? I don’t know if the cover of Bridget Walsh’s debut historical mystery, The Tumbling Girl, does it justice. I don’t know if I’d read much of the background if I saw it on a library or bookstore shelf. However, it launches a fascinating...