Allan Gaw’s novel, The Silent House of Sleep, won the 2024 Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, and deservedly so. The historical mystery introduces Dr. Jack Cuthbert in a story that beautifully entwines Cuthbert’s years in medical school in Edinburgh, his time serving in World War I, and a case in post-war London. Cuthbert is a complicated,… Continue reading The Silent House of Sleep by Allan Gaw
Tag: London
Deadly Force by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’ DCI Bill Slider mysteries may be my favorite police procedurals. I’ve read all twenty-six of the books. Deadly Force, the latest in the series, is witty with the teamwork, grunt work, and black humor emblematic of an excellent police procedural. It’s all hands on deck when Police Constable Peter Bentley is found murdered,… Continue reading Deadly Force by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
As of right now, Libby Page’s novel, This Book Made Me Think of You, will go on my Favorites list for 2026, even if it’s only on the January-June list. There were book suggestions to add to my TBR list, a London setting, a marvelous independent bookstore, and lovable characters. It’s a story of grief,… Continue reading This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page
A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
I’m glad Aubrey Hamilton talked me into reading Charles Finch’s first Charles Lenox mystery, A Beautiful Blue Death. It was a finalist for the 2007 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. I had read a recent one in the series, but I never started at the beginning. It’s a satisfying mystery, an easy read with… Continue reading A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
The Nanny’s Handbook for Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes by Amy Rose Bennett
Amy Rose Bennett kicks off the first book in her Parasol Academy series with The Nanny’s Handbook for Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes. It’s a sensual historical romance with a touch of romance. Other reviewers called it a combination of Mary Poppins and Bridgerton, and I think they’re right. Mrs. Emmeline Chase, a widow, is… Continue reading The Nanny’s Handbook for Magic and Managing Difficult Dukes by Amy Rose Bennett
A Sneak Peek
I’m working on a book, I promise! But, after the New York trip, and a busy day today, I didn’t finish. I’m going to give you a sneak peek at my next book for review. Many of you read David Baldacci, but I don’t think we’ve discussed his latest. novel, which is quite different. Strangers… Continue reading A Sneak Peek
The Memory Library by Kate Storey
My best friend suggested I pick up a book from last year, Kate Storey’s The Memory Library. I cried over it, and stayed up way too late to finish it, so that’s just a warning if you decide to pick it up. It’s a book about family, misunderstandings, and books. Sally Harrison’s daughter, Ella, fled… Continue reading The Memory Library by Kate Storey
Easeful Death by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
I was late coming to Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’ DCI Bill Slider books, but I’ve read all these outstanding police procedurals since I discovered them. The combination of witty dialogue and clever phrasing, along with the unconventional police team and the investigations are on display in the twenty-fifth book in the series, Easeful Death. Rhianne Morgan was… Continue reading Easeful Death by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany
In the tenth book in Vicki Delany’s Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery series, The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime, the author packs up bookstore owner Gemma Doyle and her friends and sends them to London. You would think West London, Massachusetts would be quiet without Gemma and her crew, but her Uncle Arthur easily… Continue reading The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany
Rebellious Grace by Jeri Westerson
I liked Jeri Westerson’s Crispin Guest medieval noir mysteries. However, I read the first in her King’s Fool series, and now the third, Rebellious Grace. This series, set during the reign of Henry VIII, is filled with politics, court fashion, and customs. And, Will Somers, the king’s jester, is the primary character. I like Will,… Continue reading Rebellious Grace by Jeri Westerson