Overdue Reviews - The Spies of Shilling Lane + Manor Death

 

Goodreads:  The Spies of Shilling Lane by Jennifer Ryan

Blurb:  From the bestselling author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir comes a thrilling new WWII story about a village busybody—the mighty Mrs. Braithwaite—who resolves to find, and then rescue, her missing daughter

Mrs. Braithwaite, self-appointed queen of her English village, finds herself dethroned, despised, and dismissed following her husband’s selfish divorce petition. Never deterred, the threat of a family secret being revealed sets her hot-foot to London to find the only person she has left—her clever daughter Betty, who took work there at the first rumbles of war. But when she arrives, Betty’s landlord, the timid Mr. Norris, informs her that Betty hasn’t been home in days--with the chaos of the bombs, there’s no telling what might have befallen her. Aghast, Mrs. Braithwaite sets her bullish determination to the task of finding her only daughter. Storming into the London Blitz, Mrs. Braithwaite drags the reluctant Mr. Norris along as an unwitting sidekick as they piece together Betty’s unexpectedly chaotic life. As she is thrown into the midst of danger and death, Mrs. Braithwaite is forced to rethink her old-fashioned notions of status, class, and reputation, and to reconsider the question that’s been puzzling her since her world How do you measure the success of your life? Readers will be charmed by the unforgettable Mrs. Braithwaite and her plucky, ruthless optimism, and find in The Spies of Shilling Lane a novel with surprising twists and turns, quiet humor, and a poignant examination of mothers and daughters and the secrets we keep.

My Thoughts:  I loved the previous book by this author but had heard mixed reviews for this book so I was a bit hesitant.   I really enjoyed all the day to day life in wartime London.   It was interesting and heartbreaking to follow Mrs. Braithwaite and Mr. Norris and all the people around them as they navigated bombings and shortages and so much loss but also increasing awareness of what they really wanted out of life.  Mrs. Braithwaite and Mr. Norris were a good pair and while of similar age couldn't have been more different.  The women's club life and the attitudes around Mrs. Braithwaite's divorce were also really interesting.  What fell a bit flat for me was the espionage elements.  It felt a bit farce-y compared to the more serious elements of the rest of the book and I had a hard time believing a few of the characters were really as well respected as they were.  I'm looking forward to reading more from this author and am hoping they next books are more like the first book I read by her.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

Goodreads:  Manor of Dying by Kathleen Bridge

Blurbs:   When decorator Meg Barrett travels to a remote mansion to help select period pieces for a new 1930s-style television mystery series, she's chilled to learn that the manor was once a mental asylum and the site of a mysterious decades-old murder. And when a fierce blizzard knocks out the power and strands Meg and her cohorts in the home's rickety old elevator, they emerge to discover that another person has been murdered--in the same macabre manner as the original victim. With a suspect list limited to those who were also stranded at the manor, Meg begins digging through their backgrounds for clues to both the old and new murder, trying to discover a connection that will lead her to the culprit's identity. But the more she learns, the more clear it becomes that someone wants to keep the secrets of the past buried, and Meg knows she'll have to watch her back before a ruthless killer decides to commit her to a grisly fate . . .

My Thoughts:  This was a cute cozy.  Meg is a likable main character and she has a quirky world of characters around her.  The murder happens in an old mansion which not only used to be an insane asylum that seems to have specialized in lobotomies but also a murder - and now a modern day murder.  The dialogue is on the clunky over-explaining side and the mystery isn't one that will stick with me.  However, this is a fun one to pick up if you need a bit of a palette cleanser from heavier books.  My Rating:  Liked It (3 Stars)

This Week in Reading - June 29

It's Sunday Post time!  This is hosted by the awesome Caffeinated Book Reviewer and gives us all a chance to recap our week.

What I Got:

A Dark and Deadly Journey by Julia Kelly - This is the third book in the Evelyn Redfern series set during WWII and I'm really looking forward to it.  (Publisher)

Currently:

Reading:  The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Telly and Murder on Mustique by Anne Glenconner

Listening: Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley 

One of our local used bookstores that has been around for ages has recently changed hands.  I finally got the chance to visit it this weekend and was so pleased with the changes.  It's a bit prettier but the general vibe and selection are the same.

Have a great week and happy reading!

Midsummer Mysteries - Classic Mystery Reviews

Goodreads: Midsummer Mysteries by Agatha Christie

Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)
Source:   Purchased

Description:  Summertime--as the temperature rises, so does the potential for evil. From Cornwall to the French Riviera, whether against a background of Delphic temples or English country houses, Agatha Christie's most famous characters solve complicated puzzles as the stakes heat up. Pull up a deckchair and enjoy plot twists and red herrings galore from the bestselling fiction writer of all time.

Includes the stories:

The Blood-Stained Pavement
The Double Clue
A Death on the Nile
Harlequin's Lane
The Adventure of the Italian Nobleman
Jane in Search of a Job
The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim
The Idol House of Astarte
The Rajah's Emerald
The Oracle at Delphi
The Adventure of the Sinister Stranger
The Incredible Theft

Genre: Mystery - Classic

Why I Picked This Book:  This is a short story collection I haven't read and I love Christie's short stories.

My Impression:  I love Christies' short stories so I've been really enjoying the release of new collections - even if most of the stories are ones I've already read.   To call this a summer collection is a bit of a stretch as only a couple of stories really have anything to do with that time of year but it is still and interesting collection.  There are a couple of Miss Marple books,  a Harley Quinn story, two Mr. Parker Pyne stories, a few Poirots, a Tommy and Tuppence and a standalone or two.  I always enjoy the variety and was thrilled to see some Mr. Parker Pyne stories as he is one of my favorites.  

The theme for this series was definitely the weakest and several of the stories were not my favorite.   That's not to say I didn't enjoy it - but it wasn't one that will be at the top of my list for a reread.  

Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Of course!  I already have my Read Christie Challenge book for July pulled out and ready to go!

Would I Recommend this Book? Yes, though this is the Christie collection I would start with if you are wanting to try a Christie book.

Friday Fives - Five Short Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1.  The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl - I've read several of Reichl's food memoirs but this was the first fiction book of hers that I read.  I enjoyed it though it wasn't a full win for me.  I find this kind of book works best for me if I really connect with the main character.  Stella was okay and I definitely felt sympathy for her regarding her relationship with her mother but she wasn't someone I really found myself rooting for.  Reichl's focus in the story is definitely the food which isn't surprising and her descriptions are gorgeous as expected.  However, what really caught my eye in the blurb was the dress and that felt very secondary in this story.  I found it very readable and I go through it fairly quickly but it just wasn't a book I fell in love with.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

2.  The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen - This is the first book in a slice of life series involving a village named Ivy Hill in 19th century England.  Things are changing for the coaching inn, The Bell, and the new owner and recent widow Jane Bell is trying to figure out how to keep things afloat.  This isn't something she's at all prepared for, but she is doing her best.  There's a whole host of side characters from inn guests and staff to village residents.  I really enjoyed the character progression of Jane's mother-in-law, Thora.  As well, Jane herself is a character I really rooted for.  There was a side character that I felt deserved some harsher consequences but for the most part this is good people trying their best.  This is billed as Christian fiction and it is, but the actual story isn't particularly religious, and I didn't find the writing preachy.  It's more a story of deeply religious people if that makes sense.  The next book isn't top of my list, but it is a series I'll be continuing.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

3.  The Unholy by Heather Graham - This series is always such fun and I really enjoyed this one.  This one was full of old movie mentions and old Hollywood lore.  Madison is a special effects artist who can also see ghosts as is Cameron - except now Cameron is also an FBI agent.  They work together well as does the rest of the special FBI unit.  The mystery itself was enjoyable though there were a couple of threads that were heavily mentioned but were never really explored.  This is kind of a candy bar book - yummy and quick to indulge in but won't stay with you too long.  It was an enjoyable read and I'll be picking up the next Krewe book by this author soon.  My Rating: Liked It! (3.5 Stars)

4.  Love, Loss, and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi - I picked this up on an Audible sale at least 6 or 7 years ago when we were really loving Top Chef.  I really enjoyed Padma's input on the show and was curious to know more about her.  This book was interesting.  I really enjoyed the look into growing up in an Indian household and then kind of split between two cultures after she and her mother moved to the US.  Her view of food was also really fascinating as was her move from modeling into the food world.  I would like for a bit more perspective on her relationship and how things developed with raising her daughter.  There are some really truly vicious reviews on this book that I think come from fans of her ex-husband and don't really seem to touch on subjects she actually touched on in the story.  She's not always the most likable but I did find it interesting and the audio which is read by the author is really well done.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

5.  The Palace Guard by Charlotte MacLeod - This is my second book by this author and the third book in the Kelling & Bitterson series.  I very much enjoyed seeing Sarah and Max again now that they know each other a bit better.  The setting for this one is an art museum loosely based on The Gardner Museum also in Boston and this also involves crimes committed in the museum though in a very different way from the infamous Gardner Heist.  MacLeod has a gift for kind of lulling you in.  I'm listening while I'm doing stuff and enjoying the story but not too wow-d by it and then all of a sudden I realize I'm completely pulled in by the mystery and the characters.  I'm really looking forward to reading more of this series and exploring MacLeod's other books.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

Books from the Backlog - Wedding of the Season

Today I'm linking up with Carole from Carole's Random Life of Books for Books from the Backlog.  I really enjoy the chance to feature a book that's been hiding in the piles of books for far too long!

Goodreads:  Wedding of the Season by Laura Lee Guhrke

Blurb:  The duke may have returned, but she has no intention of falling back into his arms...

Abandoned at the altar...

Lady Beatrix Danbury had always known she would marry William Mallory. She'd loved him forever, and she'd never doubted he loved her, too. But when she made him choose between their life together or his lifelong dream, Will chose the latter...and left two weeks before their wedding.

Return of the duke...

Will has no illusions that Beatrix would welcome him back with open arms, but six years did not dim his love or desire for her. The only problem is, she's about to marry someone else. Someone safe and predictable...the complete opposite of Will. But can he stop the wedding of the season and win Beatrix back, or is it just too late?

Why It Needs to Come Off the Shelf:  I used to be a big historical romance reader but that had really tapered off in the last few years.  I've started kind of gravitating back towards the genre and I have so many books by this author on my shelf that I need to work through.  I used to love her books but the last book I read of hers was a DNF and the one before that was a "meh" so I think this will be the tiebraker on whether I read the books I have or declutter.

Authors I've Been Meaning to Read - The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

 

At the beginning of the year, I made a list of authors that I've been saying I need to read and commit to reading at least one book by each of the authors in 2025.  Here's my thoughts on one of those books/authors.

Goodreads:  The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

Blurb:  Librarian Martha Storm has always found it easier to connect with books than people - though not for lack of trying. She keeps careful lists of how to help others in her superhero-themed notebook. And yet, sometimes it feels like she's invisible.
All of that changes when a book of fairy tales arrives on her doorstep. Inside, Martha finds a dedication written to her by her best friend - her grandmother Zelda - who died under mysterious circumstances years earlier. When Martha discovers a clue within the book that her grandmother may still be alive, she becomes determined to discover the truth. As she delves deeper into Zelda's past, she unwittingly reveals a family secret that will change her life forever.

Filled with Phaedra Patrick's signature charm and vivid characters, The Library of Lost and Found is a heartwarming and poignant tale of how one woman must take control of her destiny to write her own happy ending.

My Thoughts:  This had one of my absolute favorite things - a bookish main character and not only was the main character bookish but she also needed to take a long hard look at her life and figure out what actually makes her happy.   There's also family secrets and complicated familial relationships which are also things that I usually enjoy.  Martha really frustrated me at times but as the book went on and I learned more about her upbringing the more I understood why she was the way she was.   I really enjoyed following her as she got to know herself and those around her better.  It also hit home a bit for me when she realized that she's let all of these other jobs get in the way of her reading and decides to fix the problem.  I find myself doing the same thing when I really need to take a moment here and there to recharge and read.  This is the first book I've read by this author but I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading more from her.  My Rating: Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the 2nd Half of 2025

Today I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl which is all about lists.  Since lists are one of my favorite things this is one of my favorite linkups!  Today's topic is Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the 2nd Half of 2025.

1.  The Forget-Me-Not Library by Heather Webber - I love this author and how can I resist a book by this author that has the world Library in the title?  

2.  Death at the Door by Olivia Blacke - I really enjoyed the first book in the series and I'm really curious to see how this series develops.

3. The Secret Christmas Library by Jenny Colgan - Colgan's books are either Loves or DNFs for me.  This looks gorgeous so I'm hoping it's the former.

4.  A Moment's Shadow by Anna Lee Huber - I enjoyed the other books in the series and the previous book kind of ended on a cliffhanger so I'm looking forward to seeing how things develop.

5.  The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jonasson - I haven't read this author but I've heard great reviews and I just love the title.

6.  The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst - I loved the first book I read by this author and this also looks wonderful.

7.  Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams - I typically really enjoy this author's books and this one looks good.

8.  Ghost Business by Jen DeLuca - I'm so excited to see another book set in Boneyard Key.  I'm really looking forward to reading it.

9.  Murder on a Scottish Train by Lucy Connolly - I've really enjoyed the previous books in this cozy-ish mystery series and this one involves a train.

10. The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts - I have adored the first two books in this series and am so excited for the conclusion of the trilogy.

What releases are you excited to read during the 2nd half the year?