At Death's Dough

At Death's Dough is the 5th Deep Dish Mystery by Mindy Quigley. I love this series. It takes place in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin which is a resort town that I have visited and am familiar with. The pizzeria scenes make me hungry as pizza is my favorite food group. What's not to like? The book was published in October 2025.

The publisher's summary:  

It’s February in the ritzy lakeside resort town of Geneva Bay, Wisconsin, and love is in the air. Pizza chef Delilah O’Leary is gearing up to celebrate her first Valentine’s Day with hunky police detective Calvin Capone, great-grandson of the infamous Chicago mobster. But their romance is put on ice when a shocking discovery plunges them into a century-old crime with ties to Capone’s notorious forefather.

As old secrets surface, Delilah realizes that nearly everyone in town―from Capone’s cagey cousin to her own quirky customers―has something to hide. With the pressure mounting and the past closing in, Delilah must help Capone follow a trail of clues that could lead them to a priceless treasure... or into a deadly trap. Can Delilah serve up justice before history repeats itself? Or will she and Capone end up sleeping with the anchovies?

I enjoyed getting reacquainted with my favorite characters. Delilah is the main character and she is dating a police officer who is Al Capone’s grandson; Calvin Capone. Her sous chef and best friend Sonya is rather quirky. Sonya is always doing something new and exciting and the something usually ends up being related somehow to the murder. In this installment of the series, the death did not occur until the one third point in the story and we don't know whether it's a murder just yet. Normally I get prickly when the death/murder doesn't happen in the first couple of chapters. That did not happen because I was enjoying the setting and the characters. Another fun character is Delilah’s Aunt Biz. Biz is an octogenarian with a sassy mouth and zest for life. It seems that Delilah is the only character with common sense. She navigates all of these fun folks with aplomb.

The death investigation didn't actually happen. No witnesses were interviewed. I found this unbelievable but remembered that cozies require a suspension of belief. It seems that Capone’s shady cousin Dominic was secretly in town for an unknown reason. Delilah believes that he was searching for a treasure that disappeared after a train robbery 100 years ago because who, in their right mind, would scuba dive under a frozen lake in the winter. When Delilah and company realized that the treasure might be stashed in Geneva, she and friend Daniel dived under the ice to see if it was buried there. The results of the dive could determine whether Dominic was murdered or accidentally drowned under the ice.

I loved this cozy mystery and am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

The Hildegard Seeds

I have one additional books to read in Gary McAvoy's Vatican Secret Archives Mystery series. I will then begin reading his Vatican Archaeology series. I have enjoyed every book he has written to date and The Hildegard Seeds is no different. It was awesome. 

The publisher's summary:

When investigative journalist Hana Sinclair uncovers a cryptic reference to an ancient botanical manuscript left to by her late grandfather, she unravels a thread tied to Hildegard von Bingen, a 12th-century abbess, healer, and mystic. Her findings reveal that Hildegard’s work holds more than historical value—it may conceal the key to curing some of humanity’s most devastating diseases. But someone is determined to ensure her secrets stay buried.

As Hana teams up with Father Michael Dominic, prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives, and Marcus Russo, a Vatican archaeologist, they discover that a powerful biotech corporation, Zentara, has been systematically suppressing cancer cures for profit. Zentara’s reach is vast, its operatives ruthless, and its agenda clear: control the narrative of medical progress at any cost.

The team races to uncover and protect Hildegard’s work, their journey taking them from Geneva to Rupertsberg Abbey, where Hildegard lived and worked, to Zentara’s high-tech laboratories. Along the way, they face betrayal, danger, and the weight of their own convictions. For Hana, the fight becomes deeply personal, challenging her notions of justice and the role of science in society.

But when Zentara accelerates its plans and begins human trials with catastrophic consequences, the stakes grow even higher. Can the team expose the corporation’s crimes, safeguard Hildegard’s legacy, and ensure her healing vision is not lost to history?

A gripping tale of courage, faith, and the pursuit of truth, The Hildegard Seeds explores the timeless struggle between greed and the greater good, weaving historical intrigue with modern-day suspense in a story that will resonate long after the final page.

The action in this story began in the first chapter, must sooner than in previous novels which is a good thing.  My interest in the story began quickly as the short chapters brought the suspense level up. It was impossible to put the book down. The vial referenced in the summary above contained a substance that Hildegard's manuscript promised to be able to cure tumors.  A substance that can cure cancer would be coveted by every pharmaceutical company in the world which naturally created danger for Hana and Michael. 

The story contained alot of scientific information concerning botanicals, such as ferns and ricinus aureum as well as the scientific method of isolating the properties of these plants. Ricinus aureum isn't a recognized plant name, but likely refers to ricinus communis, the castor bean plant, known for its stunning foliage (often purplish, hence "aureum" might imply golden/colorful) and highly poisonous seeds, containing the toxin ricin, used medicinally and industrially for castor oil but dangerous if ingested. In this novel the ricinum aureum plant is referred to as a "golden castor, " so I assume we are referring to the same plant.

Also, the story includes Hildegard’s mystical language Lingua Ignota (Latin for "unknown language") which consists of 23 letters and a vocabulary with no known grammar. The only known text are individual words embedded in Latin. To write it, Hildegard used denominated litterae ignotae (Latin for "unknown letters"). It was pretty cool to see how Father Michael Dominic deciphered it. The story also contained several of the riddles in Hildegard’s writings that Hana and Michael had to decipher making this book a first rate mystery.

As I usually do when reading McAvoy's novels, I stopped reading in the middle of the book to check Wikipedia in order to determine what is true in the story and what isn't. While I know that I will find this info at the end of the story, I am too impatient to wait.

This installment of the series may be the best. The plot is more intricate and together with all the science behind Hildegard’s ideas, I was fascinated with the story. The twists and turns are ramped up and Hana and Michael find their lives in mortal danger multiple times. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars. 

The Quiet Wife

The Quiet Wife was published in January 2023. It was written by one of my favorite authors so I had high expectations for this book. It was fantastic!

The publisher's summary:

At 36, Katie Cope isn’t where she thought she’d be. Somehow the things she was supposed to have slipped by. Her dream of being a journalist was reduced to writing pop culture pieces. Her dream of being a mother stalled in a faltering marriage. And when her husband sells his business, reaching success she never has, she feels more pressed than ever to make something of her life.

When she discovers a disturbing connection between a wealthy housing project in the Colorado mountains and missing girls, she knows she might have a chance at a big story. But after joining the community, what she sees in her neighbor’s windows and the strange footsteps in the snow that come out of the woods and linger at her backdoor have her wondering if the success is worth her safety.

Something is fatally wrong in the mountains of Carson’s Pass, and when she realizes her own past might have everything to do with the vanished girls, she must risk going missing herself to find out what.

This story is a slow burn. In fact, I was rather bored until page 70 when Katie finds a secret room behind a wall. The developer had a reputation for building secret tunnels behind the walls of homes that he built. 2 girls had gone missing years earlier from houses that he constructed. Katie and her best friend Miranda came to Carson’s Pass to determine whether the homes in this development had secret tunnels. They planned in taking photos of these spaces and sending them to a journalist friend back in San Diego. While in the secret room Katie found a box filled with photos of young girls. She was shocked to discover a picture of her friend Claire, who it was assumed killed herself in the Colorado mountains. 

This story was so eerie it could have been written by Alfred Hitchcock. Toward the end I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone when what was real became unreal. I had goosebumps. Aside from the initial chapters the book was perfectly plotted. The pace was fast but at the end it was racing to the finish line. It was very rewarding. This author is well known for his psychological thrillers but The Quiet Wife may be one of his best. 

The characters were well drawn. The story is told from Katie's perspective. She is somewhat estranged from her family. Katie wants to avoid her prevocative sister but finds herself inviting her sister to family events. The relationship with her husband was hard to decipher. Both of them wanted to reconcile but not really. They thought it would be the right thing to do but their hearts are not in it. Katie is obviously the "quiet wife" but she has started to express her feelings more. No one cares though. Secondary character Phillip Pope, the developer of Carson’s Pass, is the primary villain of the book. There has been alot of gossip about him for years because of the missing girls. Some went missing from houses that he built in Colorado and no can figure out how anyone could have taken them. 

I cannot say enough good things about the book but because the opening was slow I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

A Killer in the Family

I received a free copy of this book from Librarything's Early Reviewer's Club in exchange for an honest review. The book got lost during my move and I recently came across it. It's an intoxicating drama about South East India immigrants to the U.S. and their life in New York City.

The publisher's summary:

It’s time for Ali, a good-natured Mumbai party-boy, to grow up. The first step to settling down is an arranged marriage to Maryam, the daughter of Abbas Khan, a New York real estate tycoon. She’s pretty, demure, and respectable—unlike her sister, Farhan, a sexy, rebellious divorcée.

After the wedding, Ali moves to New York and enjoys the privileges of being an honorary Khan: private helicopters, supertall skyscrapers, and a Gatsbyesque house in the Hamptons. But soon rumors begin to surface about Abbas Khan—accusations of corruption and hidden affairs—and Farhan hints that a violent secret underlies Abbas's success. Though Ali's wife insists the insinuations are unfounded, he can't shake the feeling that there's something he doesn't know.

To uncover the truth, Ali launches his own investigation, which takes him deep into Abbas’s dealings and past. As he closes in on the truth, Ali must decide: Can he remain part of the Khan family, and pay the moral price demanded by unimaginable wealth and power?

A Killer in the Family is quite the page turner. The suspense was built up slowly and there were many twists. I was confused throughout the story as to the identity of the villain. It seemed that every character could have been the primary villain but when the real one was revealed in the last chapter I was stunned.

This is a character driven story. All of them are complex and make the book irresistible. Ali's failure to launch and uncertainty about everything in life have handicapped his career moves. He is meek. His doctor wife, however, turns out to be ruthless in her maneuvering to gain control of the Khan family business. I didn't see this coming but should have given her devotion to her job in a hospital. Maryam hides underneath a patina of politeness though. Her sister Farhan is the typical drug addled person who has been unstable her entire life. In this respect she is like Ali which is probably why they had a lengthy affair. Ali's father in law is the consummate tycoon. He is always working and has been rewarded with riches the rest of us can only dream of. 

The murders are first mentioned at the 100 page mark. It was hard to determine how they were related to the Khan family or their employees. Around the 70% mark of the plot the possible killers were fleshed out. The big reveal was not too exciting. What was exciting was the evolution of the characters. 

The glittery setting of New York City's wealthy homes and lifestyles was enticing. I really wanted to have those big homes, expensive artworks, to eat at those restaurants and have the power to change people's lives for better or worse. Sadly, I am a poor blogger. 

A Killer in the Family is an intriguing read. I highly recommend it to mystery lovers. 5 out of 5 stars.

Midnight

I bought an ecopy of this book last year, thinking I could use it for the Color Coded Reading Challenge. Can midnight be a black shade?  I didn't get around to reading it until this week. It's awful I hate to say. If I hadn't read the publisher's summary before beginning this read, I would have no idea what it is about. 

The publisher's summary:

In the frigid summers of the Antarctic continent, the sun never sets, and Olivia Campbell has long dreamed of spending a sunlit night in this beautiful, remote place. So when her boyfriend—a high-powered art dealer with a taste for the finer things in life—decides to stage an ostentatious, career-making auction aboard a luxury cruise liner to Antarctica, Olivia can hardly believe her luck. That is, until the ship sets sail and her boyfriend is nowhere to be found, and she is left to manage both the auction and her own creeping fear of the open ocean entirely alone. And as though that weren’t enough, the first bodies turn up soon after. 

It seems like a terrible accident. This is the Drake Passage, after all, one of the most notorious bodies of water on the planet, and there are always risks in such extreme conditions. But as the situation deteriorates, it soon becomes clear that there is real danger on board—and that the closest help is hundreds of miles away. With tensions rising and temperatures plummeting, Olivia wonders whether she’s booked a fabulous adventure . . . or a one-way ticket to her own destruction.

The dialogue between the characters seemed to take precedence over plot action. Nothing really happened during the first half of the story. Also, Olivia is not an interesting character. She has PTSD from being on a ship years earlier with her father, who died on the trip. This could have been better written into her character but it wasn't. So why bring it up? As for the pace, I did not see any pace; just character dialogue that did not even move the plot.

The setting descriptions were spot on. I loved reading about Antarctica. I also enjoyed the cruise ship descriptions, including the activities onboard. Another aspect of the book that I liked was seeing how the art market works. It was informative. 

This book fell short. I don't know why I didn't DNF it. As for the rating, I am giving it a 1.7, one of the lowest ratings I have ever given a book. 

The Fourth Daughter

The Fourth Daughter is a family saga that takes place in Taiwan. It's an enjoyable book. As you can tell from the summary, life was not easy for women, even in the 1960s when the main story takes place.

The publisher's summary:

In Taiwan, the bond between grandmother and granddaughter opens up a healing world for them both in an inspiring family saga about the comfort of food, untold histories, and indomitable mother love.

Chef Liv Kuo’s star is on the rise…until a traumatic incident leaves her emotionally unable to venture outside her Manhattan apartment. But an unexpected reason to break free comes from Ah-Ma, Liv’s6 beloved grandmother in Taiwan. Ah-Ma needs Liv’s help in finding her fourth daughter, taken from her when the girl was an infant. After all these years, it seems impossible. It’s also a mystery: Ah-Ma’s fourth daughter is an aunt Liv never even knew existed.

After landing in Taiwan, Liv hears the heartbreaking story of her grandmother’s plight in a country once under martial law, of choices made for her, and of the hopeful search for a lost girl that has endured for more than sixty years. Like the enriching food and traditions that bind Liv and Ah-Ma, their journey for answers brings them together.

And it’s a quest that turns up both a precious old cookbook and a tale of fatal betrayal that shakes everything Liv believed about her family—revelations that could also give her the courage to face the trauma she left behind.

This heartwarming story is told in a dual timeline. The chapters alternate from 1960s Taiwan to New York in the current time period. The earlier timeline details how grandmother Yi-ping's fourth daughter, Yili, was stolen, while the present day timeline covers the search for the girl who is now in her 60s. I love dual timelines because they make the pace faster and I like how these storres unfold.

I loved the Taiwan setting. I learned alot about Taiwanese history, which was exciting for me as I am traveling there next year. The descriptions of all of the food Liv ate while in Taiwan were mouthwatering. The spices in each dish were described as the food entered her mouth as well as the aftertaste. If there was anything negative about the setting it was the number of people wandering in the streets. Liv has panic attacks when in crowds. I felt her vertigo as well. The author did a great job describing the setting, which is appropriate since she was born in Taiwan.

The politics of the country was well-described. Liv's family were associated with the KMT who had control of the government during the time period of the story. Liv's grandfather, Wang Po-Wei, was connected with them. The KMT were known to be brutal, killing people or making people disappear on a whim from officials. This association made it difficult to get information about Yili as people refused to help because of anger over relatives who had disappeared. 

SPOILER ALERT!  The story has a happy ending. Everyone lives happily ever after. It's nice to read something that ends well. It's even nicer when all of the characters get along. I don't see this often but I love it when it happens.

5 out of 5 stars.

Death on a Scottish Train

I have anxiously been awaiting the publication of this book. Death in a Scottish Train is the 4th book in Lucy Connelly's Scottish Isles Mystery series. It is a cozy mystery featuring Dr. Emilia McRoy, an American who moved to Scotland for a new start in life. She acts as both a physician and the coroner in the village of Sea Isle. The book was published on October 14, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

Dr. Emilia McRoy, an American in Scotland, has a killer in sight in the fourth installment of the Scottish Isle mystery series, perfect for fans of Paige Shelton and Connie Berry.

Summer is coming to a close on beautiful Sea Isle in Scotland, and Dr. Emilia McRoy is celebrating one year since her big move. With a weeklong festival to end the season, the town gathers for a magical ride on the newly refurbished Storyteller’s Train, but the launch’s success is dampened by an unexpected death.

What appears to be a case of deadly allergies is soon revealed as murder. As Emilia, her assistant Abigail, and the local constable Ewan McGregor unravel the mystery, the killer sets their murderous intentions on them.

If they want to survive, they will need the help of all of their friends—before they become the latest victims.

While the story is a mystery, what I immediately feel when I open any book in this series is the coziness of the Sea Isle village. Everyone gets along and they all look out for each other. Everyone also seems to be happy. If I could move there I would. This is the only cozy mystery that gives me that feeling.

The plot was captivating. It revolved around the investigation of the death of accountant Donald Jacks. Jacks was scheduled to be a storyteller for a vintage train ride. While he was seen at the train station, he didn't board the train. He was later found stuffed in a cupboard at the station. Em and Ewen quickly learn that he invested several residents' retirement funds in risky schemes and they lost everything. The pool of suspects is wide but perhaps Jacks just met his karma. Jacks had an allergy to bees that few people knew about. Since he constantly put lip balm on his lips, the killer decided put bee venom in the lip balm. As Jacks used it he was not aware that he was killing himself with it. There were plenty of suspects and red herrings as Emilia and Ewen investigated the death, The big reveal is in the last chapter.

Emilia has now resided in Sea Isle for one year. There is a hint of her having romantic feelings for Ewen who has been always been a  annoyance to her. I think we are going to see these two characters becoming close in future installments of the series.

Death on a Scottish Train was a fun and relaxing read. Cozy lovers who haven't read the series yet should look into it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Circle of Days

This 670 page novel was published on September 23, 2025. Ken Follett's Circle of Days is similar to his Knightsbridge series but instead it is a saga regarding the building of Stonehenge.

The publisher's summary:

Seft, a talented flint miner, walks the Great Plain in the high summer heat, to witness the rituals that signal the start of a new year. He is there to trade his stone at the Midsummer Fair, and to find Neen, the girl he loves. Her family lives in prosperity and offer Seft an escape from his brutish father and brothers within their herder community.

Joia, Neen’s sister, is a priestess with a vision and an unmatched ability to lead. As a child, she watches the Midsummer ceremony, enthralled, and dreams of a miraculous new monument, raised from the biggest stones in the world. But trouble is brewing among the hills and woodlands of the Great Plain.

Joia’s vision of a great stone circle, assembled by the divided tribes of the Plain, will inspire Seft and become their life’s work. But as drought ravages the earth, mistrust grows between the herders, farmers and woodlanders—and an act of savage violence leads to open warfare . . .

My first impression of this novel is WOW! It’s an incredibly captivating story with intriguing characters. Joia is a born diplomate. This trait helps her to gain consensus from her fellow priestesses and villagers when coming up with new practices for both groups of people. She is a strong female character and she is my favorite. Seft is also a strong character. Because his father and brothers were abusive, Seft left the family and everything he knew about flintmaking to join a herder group. Seft also decided to go against his father in order to marry his love, Neen. He was successful as a herder. Seft's ability to think and find solutions to common problems that the herders faced helped him gain the approval of his new tribe when he wanted to build a new Monument. 

The writing is superb. I have been thinking about how Follett made the chapters exciting enough to force readers to keep reading until the early hours of the day. There was not the suspense that I am used to seeing in my mysteries. I really don't know how Follett did it but I couldn’t stop reading the book. I read it in 2 days with 500 pages read on the first day. This morning I finished the remaining 200 pages of the book. I can't say enough good things about the book. It is fantastic.

The original Stonehenge, or Monument as it's described in the story, was made out of wood. The priestesses were able to tell time by their method of dance around the structures. When the wood monument fell down the need for a permanent structure was discussed between Joia, Seft and a few other villagers. Eventually they decided on a stone monument. Seft then had to find a way to move those big stones to the place the monument had always been located at. His brilliant analysis of the problems the villagers would face to move the stones aided Seft in devising a strategy. 

I relished this story. Rating the book is easy. It's a 5 out of 5 star story and I recommend that readers pick up the book. You won't be disappointed.

January Armchair Travel Plans

 

This month I will be transported to Stonehenge in the years before the current era with Ken Follett's Circle of Days. My next armchair adventure will be in Sea Isle, Scotland for Lucy Connelly's Death on a Scottish Train. I love this remote village. Later in the month I will be traveling to Taiwan, Lake Geneva,  Wisconsin, South Korea, St. Petersburg, Russia, India, Central Asia and parts everywhere and in-between.

For several months I have been trying to find time to read Lyn Liao Butler's The Fourth Daughter. I intend to read this Taiwanese family saga this month. Asia will still be on my radar for a trip to South Korea with Se-Ah Jang and her A Twist of Fate. Then I will detour north to St. Petersburg, Russia for a story about a ballerina in Juhea Kim's City of Night Birds. Yes, a story set in Russia written by a South Korean author. India and Central Asia complete my international travels. I then stay in the U.S. for several mysteries.

Where are you traveling in January?

Happy New Year!

2026 Books in Translation Reading Challenge

I may have joined too many reading challenges for 2026. However I just can't help myself. I am addicted to reading challenges. The Books in Translation challenge goes hand in hand with the Japanese reading challenge. In the past I read several books published in Spain so I'm looking forward to reading more translated books. I am signing up at the Conversationalist Level which requires me to read between 4 and 6 books. The challenge is hosted by the Introverted Reader Blog.

Rules

1)  You can read a book that’s been translated from any language into the language of your choosing. The challenge is not limited to translations to or from English.

2)  You can read any genre.

3)  You can read books meant for any age group.

4)  Crossovers with other challenges are fine.

5)  Any format that you choose is also acceptable.

6)  The challenge will run from January 1 through December 31, 2026.

7)  A blog is not required for participation; you can also link to reviews on other sites such as GoodReads, Instagram, etc.

8)  Sign up anytime throughout the year at the challenge post. 

Levels

Beginner: Read 1-3 books in translation

Conversationalist: 4-6 books (my personal goal)

Bilingual: 7-9 books

Linguist: 10+ books

Japanese Literature Reading Challenge 19

My love affair with Japan has led me to join another reading challenge.  This challenge takes place only in January and February so I need to choose books ASAP. Asako Yuzuki’s Butter was so good that I feel compelled to read more Japanese stories.  Book choices can range from short stories to classics and contemporary fiction. I am going back to Japan in March so a two month challenge fits perfectly within my schedule.

The challenge is hosted by the Dolce Bellezza blog. The challenge sign up post is here.

Top Ten Book Characters of 2025

Below are my favorite characters of the year.  As I was selecting them, I realized that not all of them were the protagonist. Drayton Connelly is a debonair Southern man who is always dressed well and who loves tradition. Zio Tino is the uncle of the protagonist in The Keeper of Lost Art. His decisions for the family pushed the plot forward. 

Drayton Connelly, High Tea and Misdemeanors by Laura Childs; Drayton is always the voice of reason. However, I most love reading about his daily wardrobe.

Clair Cosi, No Roast for the Weary by Cleo Coyle; Clair owns and operates a coffeehouse with her ex-husband. She always has a keen insight and solves the murders at hand.

Lucie Montgomery, Deeds Left Undone by Ellen Crosby, Lucie has a disability but she still is able to own and operate a vineyard in Virginia. Her mobility impairment does not stop her from pursuing her dream job.

Emilia McRoy, Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly; Emilia is a physician who left her practice in the U S. to move to Scotland. She is also the coroner for her village which helps her solve murders. I wish I could be that brave and move overseas.

Delilah O’Leary, Sleep in Heavenly Pizza by Mindy Quigley; Delilah owns a pizzeria. She has hired an eclectic and eccentric group of employees who help her solve crimes.

Zio Tino, The Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli 

Kaveri Murthy, Into the Leopard's Den by Harini Nagendra; Kaveri is the protagonist of this trilogy. Her knowledge on how humans behave bring twists to the story as well as determining the whodunnit.

Anyu Zhang, The Master Jeweler by Reina Dai Randel; Anyu is long suffering and this trait helps her become a jeweler.

Hubie Schuze, The Pot Thief Who Studied Calvin by J Michael Orenduff; Hubie seems like an old hippie. However, he's not old enough to be one. Each of the books in the series is solved by the use of one of his eccentricities.

Emma Quinn, The Art Collector by Susan Bacon; Emma is a history professor at Columbia University. She has taken up an investigation into the death of photographer Seal Larson, a friend of Andy Warhol.