I was anticipating a London murder mystery set during Queen Victoria‘s reign and the US Civil War. It was that, but it truly was an interesting and well-researched work of historical fiction about an undertaker caught up in HRH‘s grief at the loss of her husband, Confederacy blockade runners and a serial killer. Whew! It was a lot! In the end it was an enjoyable 4/5⭐️ read to begin 2026.

My first Ann Cleeves and the first in a series. It took me a moment to settle into this novel. It is subtitled A Thriller, but it is more a procedural mystery. I found the setting interesting and I have already reserved the next. DC Perez and the other MCs were nicely done. Two mysteries in one earned it 4/5 ⭐️. Looking forward to the next novel and checking out the show sometime soon.

Sweet story of a cat and how his amazing resilience taught his family that even small miracles are possible. Three ⭐️ for a story that reminds us that pets can add meaning to our lives in unexpected ways.

I struggled to find a seasonal murder mystery to read until I found this one. I realized it was a series, but the author did give enough background to make it work. Apparently the Pennyfoot is cursed to have a murder each Christmas. This time a maid‘s ex is found dead and several people have a motive. Nice little mystery and after some misdirection everything worked out and the holiday is saved. A soft 3 ⭐️ rating.

I missed out on a chance to see The Cursed Child on a visit to London. Considering attending now and thought it time to read the play. Interesting twists with the use of forbidden magical objects and a confrontation with a new-old enemy. At the heart it is about understanding and choosing those we love. Not as powerful as a novel, but 3.5 ⭐️ for bringing me back to Harry and his family.

An illuminating look at tuberculosis and its role in history and the unnecessary, but continuing impact it has for many. A fascinating, but frustrating review of past and present developments and decisions that frame the many inequities in our world. A 4 ⭐️ rating for the reminder to understand our interconnected lives.

French noblewoman Marguerite de la Rocque de Roberval (1515--1542) has always led a quiet life, but her guardian spends her fortune and sells her home. His plan is another prosperous voyage to “New France.” This time he takes Marguerite with him. After he discovers Marguerite‘s rebellion he strands her with a lover and her nurse. Although slow to start her tale is thrilling and satisfying. It is a 4/5 ⭐️ read and a 2025 favorite.

Cash is back! She is haunted by the lengths she has had to go to survive and her gifts seem to be on the fritz, but she is still the first to discover the murder of a wealthy farmer. A young native girl abandoned by her parents is the only witness. Cash has to solve the murder and find the girl‘s parents before more lives are ruined. A 4 ⭐️ read. Rendon‘s love of MN and her community are evident.

My first Lisa Unger and from reviews I realize it might not have been the best place to start. A group of influencers are brought together for a game of hide and seek. Each one has a need for the $ prize and redemption, but a dangerous storm is coming and their famous hosts are facing a deadly reckoning. I too found it hard to sympathize with the characters, but it was an interesting plot. A 3⭐️story that kept me reading until the end.

I usually choose murder during the holiday season, but I wanted something different. This is my first by this author and it was amusing and offered just enough plot to let me speed through it. Three half sisters come together to settle their father‘s estate. His instructions are absurd, but meant to heal relationships and bring a community together. A comforting holiday story that earned 3 ⭐️ from me.

Times are difficult and a small kingdom in southern France needs to forge an alliance with another. The King‘s solution is to marry Princess Tullia to an odious prince, but she wants nothing to do with this plan. The court magician, Anatole is torn. He has always looked after Tullia, but he is beholden to the King. A series of magical mishaps send the two on the run, but their flight may be doomed. This story was a magical 3/5 ⭐️ read.

After multiple attempts, I have to add it to the DNF pile. I need someone or something to care about. It feels harsh, but I do not care about these characters.

Despite the acclaim, I am finding this a bit boring. I have read 25% of the novel and I can‘t muster any enthusiasm and I don‘t care. Before I add it to the DNF list, does it get better? It is my first Kingsolver, is it always a slow burn?

I appreciate authors writing stories that remind me of the importance of our shared history. I also love a story that gives voices to the forgotten or tells of lesser known events. It is WW II and a librarian is sent to neutral Lisbon to find and photograph newspapers and other publications to aid in the war effort. In France another woman resists the Nazis by publishing clandestine newspapers. A bit stilted, but still a 3.5/5 ⭐️ read.

Four impoverished sisters with an ill mother decide to open their seaside home to paying guests to make ends meet. Sarah lost the love of her life and is now resigned to caring for her family. Emily is the charming one, but her twin hides from the world. Running a guest house, flirting with eligible men and making friends keeps the sisters busy in this 3.5 ⭐️ first in series pick.

A lot to unpack in this novel. It is a story of a Robin Swift, an orphan rescued from a cholera outbreak in Canton. He becomes the ward of an English professor and after years of study is accepted at Oxford University and the prestigious translation institute, Babel. At university Robin makes close friends and learns the empire building skill of silver working. A 4/5⭐️pick for this boarding school novel with a few twists.

I love historical fiction that either reminds me of important stories & events or teaches me something new. The Women does both. I knew that as a nation we treated returning Vietnam soldiers horribly, I did not realize what this meant for women that served and then were ignored. ‘Frankie‘ enlists in the army to make her father & Navy brother proud. There she learns the terrible costs of war and the unbreakable bonds of friendship it can forge. 4⭐️

There was little in the way of plot, but a lot of content in this novel. A child is given to a hedonistic vampire and is eventually turned. She wanders the earth hiding from humankind. The mother of a young child is losing her own mother to a horrible disease. She is also slowly losing herself. The writing was good enough to keep me reading, but this raw story left me cold. Only 2.5/5 ⭐️ for this unique novel.

I was surprised by the negative Kirkus review. I enjoyed this story of four generations of women haunted by losses. Each generation has a gift related to memory and this gift leads them on sometimes foolhardy paths as they seek to find answers about a sailor that faced an angry whale. 🐋 This unusual novel earned a 3.5/5 ⭐️ rating for reminding me that the relationship between mothers and daughters can be complicated.

After a near brawl at a faculty meeting, Athena has to uncover the identity of a hot author creating erotica inspired by the classics in order to save her job. The author is from Athena‘s hometown and she takes a waitressing job at the local cafe to help her track down the mysterious writer. Working under a deadline and dealing with her ex has made Athena‘s task almost impossible. The Brontës are better, but this 3⭐️ read is fun too.

An idyllic village complete with a murder solving librarian. Sherry‘s investigative skills are needed for more than reference work as the bodies begin to pile up. When Sherry‘s boyfriend is killed, her investigations take a personal supernatural turn. Charming premise, but this was almost a DNF. The characters were pleasant enough, but it was only a 2.5 ⭐️read for me.

Working feverishly through their final college years Sam, Sadie and Marx create an instantly successful video game. Zevin‘s novel winds through time to tell their story of creativity, business and relationships. She also looks back to Sam‘s trauma and how it influences his work and the trio‘s friendship. The story is slow-paced, but still a satisfying 4 ⭐️ read.

This was pure delight. A life changed due to the enforced isolation of the pandemic has been a frequent storyline, but Dalton‘s memoir of rescuing a young hare is a beautiful ode to the natural world and an animal that teaches her about the inherent fragility and dignity of life. My first 5⭐️ review of the year.

I am not a true crime fan so I was not familiar with the author. It is her debut. The plot is interesting even if it seems to borrow heavily from the JonBenet Ramsey tragedy and perhaps others. A child‘s murder and a family ruined. Years later a friend, now a journalist is back home to care for her uncle when tragedy strikes again. Are the murders related? Cue the mystery, revelations and danger. Basic prose, but worth a look at this 3.5 ⭐️ read.

A child is “adopted” by a wealthy white British explorer. Forced to leave his family and home he is at first treated as a companion and beloved son. When his “father” dies suddenly Celestine‘s fortunes change. Nearly 70 years later another child suffers in the same house. When Lowra inherits the house years later she decides to research the hidden items that gave her comfort so long ago. This haunting & heartbreaking 4 ⭐️ story will linger.

I had high hopes for this one. I have read most of Johansen‘s thrillers especially those featuring Eve. The Death Mask brought a few of my favorite characters from previous books and introduced two new ones. With so many, there ended up being little for them to do. The villains are brutal, ugly and a little slow. The plot seemed designed to bring the characters together to say farewell. Only 2+ ⭐️ for a less than satisfying read.

This was an easy read. Tova is 70, lives alone and each evening cleans the Sowell Bay Aquarium to keep busy. She loves her maritime friends at the aquarium especially Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus. Marcellus is a wily escape artist, collector and wise observer of humanity. An accident and a visitor are the catalyst for big changes for the two unusual friends. A happy diversion at 3.5/5 ⭐️.

I found this very readable, but not relatable. Jane has taken 10 years to write her second novel. In those years she and her husband have barely scraped by, moving their kids every year. Now that she has finished it, Jane feels that they will finally be able to have the life she has always wanted. Her efforts to find success wreak havoc in her life. Only 3 of 5 ⭐️ for this one.

Hana‘s quiet existence as a small town librarian is upended when her best friend dies after falling from a balcony. The ensuing investigation threatens the facade Hana has created after immigrating from Bosnia during the Bosnian War. Hana seeks answers in order to protect herself and her friend‘s young son. A 3.5 ⭐️ pick for this intriguing novel that shines a light on a conflict that I knew little of except for the headlines.

“They are told that the only way to have peace is to expel us or kill us. When such are the words they hear every minute of every day, it becomes too loud for them to listen to their hearts. They do terrible things and believe they are doing what is right. “

A mother seeking vengeance for a murdered child finds herself serving an older woman and her family haunted by a strange curse. An investigator with an unusual gift is asked to explain a spate of recent deaths, but cannot find his dearest friend. Fate brings these characters and others together against a backdrop of modernization and political turmoil. I enjoyed this 4/5 ⭐️ pick immensely.

A soft pick for this one. There were some laugh out loud moments and the short chapters helped propel the story forward. A couple and their adult children again return to a shabby rental at Cape Cod. The children are moving forward and the mother, the heart of the family is struggling to let go of the past. The MC fixation on her children is too intense for me. Only 2.5 ⭐️ for this angst-filled novel.

I learned of this book from a podcast. The guest was reminding listeners how individuals and churches are called to help the poor and the marginalized and how having secure housing can help stabilize the issues that contribute to homelessness. I was compelled to track down his book. For me his work is a five ⭐️ pick. It is teaching me how a change in perspective and a willingness to do small and big things may make a difference.

“It is past time for us to get into some holy trouble on behalf of the unhoused.” pg 179 ❤️

“Above all else, homelessness, dehumanizes. It isolates, it discards, and it amplifies fear and anxiety. In your daily interactions with people experiencing homelessness, their homelessness is not truly at stake. Their humanity though is.”

Judith a cruciverbalist, Suzie a dog walker and the vicar‘s wife, Becks discover they have a knack for sleuthing when three people are murdered in their village. Our heroes are often overlooked, yet they bravely take on villains in a series of quirky and dangerous escapades. This seemingly mismatched trio find true friendship, help the police solve the three cases and earn a four ⭐️ rating from me.

A pleasant story of a struggling small town and the two young women that find a way to save it. Sarah Dove is a descendant of the town‘s founder. Grace has moved to town for a new job and to care for her foster mother and niece. Together they inspire and revitalize the community. A 3⭐️ rating for this novel that touches on some challenging topics and has a little magic and romance sprinkled in.

Four ⭐️ pick for Hickey‘s novel of finding home against the backdrop of tribal politics. Mitch is the fixer for childhood friend and President of the Passage Rouge nation. After two years the two have learned that power is kept by doling out per capita checks and banishing those that disagree with you. As they strive for re-election they stoop to dirty tricks to win and the stakes are higher than imagined.

Beautifully written novel telling the story of a wealthy woman, Sera and her slum dwelling servant, Bhima. Together for many years the women have shared an unusual closeness that almost transcends their socioeconomic differences. The tenuousness of their relationship is revealed when an unjust accusation is leveled against one of them. A 4.5 ⭐️ for this hauntingly sad and lovely tale.

A story of the greatest American race horse and race in America. A freed slave breeds a horse that can run fast with extraordinary endurance. His enslaved son is the horse‘s trainer and caretaker. Freedom for the man is out of reach until a Civil War confrontation. A contemporary grad student finds a dingy horse painting and his research revives the legend, but racism is still only thinly veiled. A slow starter, but worth the journey for 4/5 ⭐️.

“But after a time, he had stopped seeking such dialogue. They were, all of them, lost to a narrative untethered to anything he recognized as true.” Private Thomas J. Scott (artist) p. 337

After their mother‘s death, Byron and ‘Benny‘ learn that almost everything they thought they knew about their mother was wrong. B&B‘s ma, Eleanor hoped that telling them the truth would heal old hurts and mend their relationship. Eleanor left her kids traditional black cake and more room for love. I was left with love for this novel and a hankering for cake. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mia‘s younger brother is non-speaking and has physical challenges, but he ran home from the park alone. Where is their Dad? Mia, her twin John and their mother Hannah are desperate to find him, but only Eugene knows what really happened and his knowledge is locked within him. A fascinating family facing heartache, a small miracle and a twisty plot make this a great 4 of 5 ⭐️read.

Purchased a copy for a child and realized some readers were concerned about the content and I needed to check it out. I found that this quirky fairytale reminds children that the world can be difficult and silly, but that all are searching and fighting for their heart‘s desire. Read and discuss together. This tale of an unlikely hero fighting fear and rats to save a princess is a four ⭐️ read.

“Something in an ant is sure where these morsels belong, but the ant could not explain this Something in a poem is certain where its words belong, but the poet could not explain this. All day the ant obeys an inexplicable order. All day the poet obeys an incomprehensible demand.” ~ Jane Hirshfield

Wrong book, wrong reader. Page 67 and I am abandoning it. Each paragraph and chapter seems endless.

Zamora‘s memoir details his harrowing journey from El Salvador to “la USA” at the age of nine. I was amazed at the author‘s detailed memories of his months long trip. He and his travel companions demonstrated remarkable courage and compassion under the most difficult of circumstances. A 4.5 ⭐️ pick for a story that will stay with you.

The Guardian (2/2025) summed it up well: “This book within a book weaves a writer‘s struggles with scenes from their Africanfuturist tale of post-apocalyptic robots.” Fueled by anger at a job loss, Zelu, scraps her failed writing and begins a SF novel that is an instant success. Now Zelu must deal with fame, but new doors are also open. Zelu‘s story is closely entwined with Ankara, her MC in “ Rusted Robots.” Full of angst and hope for 4/5 ⭐️

Powerful gut wrenching narrative. It is the period of Reconstruction, when Sethe and her daughter Denver live in a haunted house at 124 Bluestone Road. The baby ghost doesn‘t cause too much trouble. Sethe and Denver are shunned by their neighbors until Paul D and then a mysterious young woman appear at the door. Sethe tries to make a family of the four, but her memories and dark forces hinder her efforts. Brutal and beautiful. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another novella with a mini-mystery for Mallory and Gray. Mallory is excited to see Charles Dickens perform. As she and Gray angle for an autograph, they are introduced to the author by Gray‘s ex-lover. Gray‘s ex has a little blackmail problem and Mallory agrees to take the case. There was less tension and danger, but it is always nice to meet historical figures and be reminded that people are the similar no matter the time period. 3/5 ⭐️