The Way of the Wicked

I have been reading Mel Starr's books since he began writing. Last year he published this 17th novel in his Hugh de Singleton series. Way of the Wicked was a relaxing read, although there was some difficulty with medieval wording.

The publisher's summary:

Kendrick Wroe is found dead in the frozen Shill Brook.

Most suspect he has been poaching Lord Gilbert's fish, though Sir Hugh finds reason to believe this may not be so... Then one of Kendrick's friends is slain; another seems to be in mortal peril, and in an apparent attempt to throw Hugh off the scent, his comely daughter Bessie is abducted.

As the town drops all to find her, the tension steadily increases: a member of a plow team dies in mysterious circumstances, Kendrick's surviving friend is forced to flee for safety in Eynsham Abbey, and as events seemingly spiral out of control, it’s all Hugh can do to master his anxiety and uncover the killer...

Mel Starr's latest novel is a thoroughly enjoyable medieval murder mystery. It may be enjoyed as complete in itself, or as part of the Hugh de Singleton series.

I was surprised by how much difficulty I had in understanding all of the medieval words the author used. Some pages seemed to be written solely in old English. I was able to adjust but it took me at least a third of the book. For me that's unusual. Since I have read all of the sixteen prior installments of the series and never had this issue, I must wonder if the author changed his writing style. There is a lengthy glossary at the front of the book but since I read an ebook it seemed harder to keep going back and forth. I knew that the murders were coming soon so I kept on reading, assuming that I would like this whodunit. Thankfully, I did.

Why the title? In this story, two boys are murdered. The murderer fears that Hugh will find him out and finds wicked ways to distract him. I didn't quite catch the clues to the killer's identity. Hugh questioned a few people but was stumped throughoutmost of the story. Toward the end we read that he has figured out who the killer was but I have no idea how he came to his conclusions. Still, I enjoyed catching up with my favorite characters.

The author is a medieval scholar and brings authenticity to this era. However, I think a little less authenticity would be an improvement. 3 out of 5 stars.

The World's Fair Quilt

I have sorely missed reading the Elm Creek Quilt series. It ended several years ago but author Jennifer Chiaverini gives us a new installment of the series with The World's Fair Quilt. It was published on April 1, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

As fall paints the Pennsylvania countryside in flaming colors, Sylvia Bergstrom Compson is contemplating the future of her beloved Elm Creek Quilts. The Elm Creek Quilt Camp remains the most popular quilter’s retreat in the country, but unexpected financial difficulties have beset them and the Bergstrom family’s stately nineteenth-century manor. Now in her eighth decade, Sylvia is determined to maintain her family’s legacy, but she needs new resources—financial and emotional.

Summer Sullivan—a founding Elm Creek Quilter—arrives to discuss an antique quilt that she wants to display at the Waterford Historical Society’s quilt exhibit. When Sylvia and her sister Claudia were teenagers, they had entered a quilt in the Sears National Quilt Contest for the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair. The Bergstrom sisters’ quilt would be perfect for the Historical Society’s exhibit, Summer explains.

Sylvia is reluctant to lend out the quilt, which has been stored in the attic for decades, nearly forgotten. In keeping with the contest’s “Century of Progress” theme, the girls illustrated progress of values—scenes of the Emancipation Proclamation, woman’s suffrage, and labor unions. But although it won ribbons, the quilt also drove a wedge between the sisters.

As Sylvia reluctantly retraces her quilt’s story for Summer, she makes an unexpected discovery—one that restores some of her faith in this unique work of art, and helps shine some light on a way forward for the Elm Creek Quilts community.

I loved catching up with my favorite characters from the series. Sylvia's story is told through a 1937 narrative as well as through the current time period. I enjoyed the 1937 narrative the best because that time period in the prior novels was fantastic. Sylvia's nuclear family always had some drama going on. Sylvia couldn't stand her older sister Claudia, who her mother always sided with. Her younger brother Richard was barely five years old in 1937 and was not a prominent character. Sylvia's extended family were more likable and were prominent in the first few books of the series. Her grand-aunts were expert quilters and bakers and they were sweet characters as were her grand-uncles. All of these characters were charming and I loved them all. Their appearance in the story was heartwarming.

The rivalry between Sylvia and Claudia brings tension to the plot. This has been true for each novel. Here, we have them squabbling over creating an original quilt for the Sears quilting competition, which was a real event.  Claudia's poor sewing skills kept them from winning at the regional and national levels of the competition but Sylvia never let her see the Judge’s critique of their quilt. Claudia was in denial concerning her skills and never gave in during an argument with Sylvia, arguments that Claudia always won.

If you have not read the Elm Creek Quilts series yet, I doubt that you would enjoy this book. You really need to understand who all of the characters are from the past 100 years of the storyline or none of it will make any sense. This is a cute cozy series but note that it's not a mystery.

I highly recommend the series to cozy fans, especially if they love quilting. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Celestial Guardian

I started this book last night and was only going to read a few chapters. The next thing I knew I had read 150 pages. Again, I thought I would finish the chapter and go to bed. I didn't get to sleep until I finished the book. The Celestial Guardian is that good! 

The publisher's summary:  

Dive into the heart of Vatican intrigue with The Celestial Guardian, an adrenaline-pumping thriller that masterfully intertwines the shadowy corridors of religious power with the luminous frontiers of scientific discovery. This captivating narrative follows Father Michael Dominic, the esteemed Prefect of the Vatican’s Secret Archives, as he uncovers a remarkable artifact lost to time—Leonardo da Vinci’s most ingenious invention, the Celestial Guardian. Initially heralded as a divine instrument capable of forecasting a catastrophic asteroid bound for Earth, Father Dominic's discovery soon unravels a more ominous reality: the Guardian’s ability to not just predict, but alter celestial events.

As the revelation of its true potential threatens to shake the foundations of faith and science, the narrative propels readers into a high-stakes race against time. Father Dominic finds himself ensnared in a dangerous web of ambition and power, with factions including a power-hungry Vatican cardinal, vying for control of the Guardian’s world-altering abilities. Set against the backdrop of a Church grappling with transformative doctrines and the scrutiny of the world, Father Dominic must navigate his own inner turmoil while thwarting a global catastrophe.

The Celestial Guardian is a riveting exploration of the delicate balance between belief and science, power and morality. It’s a story that delves deep into the heart of human vulnerability, ambition, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. With a narrative rich in historical enigma, scientific wonder, and human drama, this novel promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, questioning where the boundary between miraculous and scientific truly lies. Prepare for a journey that spans the secretive vaults of the Vatican to the cutting edge of astronomy, all woven into a suspense-filled saga that guarantees to captivate from the first page to the last.

I loved the story but I felt it was a little different from other books on the series. The others were thrillers but this one I would categorize as a mystery. There's nothing wrong with that. There was no urgency in the resolution of the plot, at least I didn't see any. There was no murder to resolve. Instead, there is a race between one group who want to control the Guardian for good and another group wanting to use it to gain power. I had a disconnect with the idea that there was an urgency among these two groups within the Vatican. That said, I was eager to know how this would all play out.

As usual, the author created an amazing plot premise. He took one of DaVinci device drawings and decided to have his characters build it. Lo and behold the machine can predict celestial events and even change those events. The villain is a Cardinal who plans to use the machine to create the face of Jesus in the sky. He hopes it will result in people returning to the church and strictly following his instructions. Father Dominic prefers to only use the Guardian to change the path of an asteroid tumbling toward earth.

The Celestial Guardian is an easy reading and I'm rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Confessions of Pope Joan

The Confessions of Pope Joan is the 7th book in the Vatican Secret Archives Mystery series. I have read every other book in this series and can honestly that all of them were fantastic. In this installment of the series Father Michael Dominic comes across the diary of Pope Joan, proving the existence of this female Pope.

The publisher's summary:

In the heart of the English countryside, a discovery is made that threatens to overturn centuries of Church history. When Father Michael Dominic uncovers a cryptic diary leading to a lost 1st century Gospel, he is thrust into a labyrinth of deceit, murder, and controversy. Alongside Hana Sinclair, a savvy journalist, Michael sets out to unravel a mystery buried deep within the Church's past. The Confessions of Pope Joan is a gripping tale of courage and faith, charting their quest against a powerful adversary seeking to keep the truth hidden.

Their journey reveals the existence of Pope Joan, the first and only female Pope whose reign has been obscured by time and conspiracy. As they traverse the intricate tapestry of deceit and power, they must confront a society unwilling to relinquish its patriarchal hold. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Grace Dempsey, assigned to a seemingly unrelated murder case in England, stumbles upon a thread that binds her to the historic revelation. Their paths converge, creating a thrilling narrative that intertwines past and present, fact and fiction.

As the Vatican's secrets unfold, Pope Ignatius, Michael's ailing father, battles his own legacy. Torn between preserving the Church's past and shaping its future, his decisions become paramount in the struggle for truth. The Pope’s radical stand for change, embodied in two Apostolic Constitutions, sets the stage for a new era in the Church while challenging long-standing beliefs and traditions.

The Confessions of Pope Joan is an intriguing blend of historical revelation, suspenseful mystery, and human resilience. It delves deep into the heart of the Catholic Church, unearthing secrets hidden for centuries. Through engaging characters, intertwined plotlines, and poignant insights, this novel offers readers an engrossing journey through a world where the past bleeds into the present, reshaping the future. With every turn of the page, The Confessions of Pope Joan forces readers to question the known and grapple with the unimagined, making it a must-read for fans of historical thrillers.

McAvoy presents a good case for the existence of a female Pope. It was exciting to read about regardless of whether Pope Joan existed or not. His extensive research into this subject is apparent. I love how McAvoy marries theological arguments with historical objects and adventure. He is an expert at it. In this installment of the series McAvoy addresses married priests and women’s roles in the Church

As usual, the story follows Father Michael Dominic and his friend Hana Sinclair as they travel to England to see an ancient Bible. A sheet of paper falls out. It is a poem that has clues to the location of a  diary written by Joan Anglicus. Joan is believed by some to be the only female pope in church history.  Others believe that she is a myth. Within this diary, Dominic and Sinclair find another document that leads them to the ancient gospel of Salome. Salome is believed to be Jesus's aunt who was at both the crucifuxion and resurrection. These two documents show that there were influential women who shaped the Catholic Church’s history. We then see Dominic and Sinclair travel to ancient religious sites and museums in order to protect these ancient documents and solve a murder along the way.

The author’s note at the back of the book explains what is fact in the story and what is fiction. I have always found these notes to be just as exciting as the novels. If you haven't read McAvoy yet, you simply must. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The Peacemaker

The Peacemaker is the second book in an Amish fiction trilogy by Wanda Brunstetter. It is part of the Mifflin County series. I reviewed the first book in the series, The Protector, on June 1, 2024.  The Peacemaker was published two days ago on March 1, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

An Unresolved Mystery Holds an Amish Community in Limbo In book two of A Mifflin County Mystery series, Rosa Petersheim’s disappearance continues to cause suspicion and pain to swirl in the Big Valley. Ada’s best friend, Rosa, disappeared a year ago and still has not been found. In their grief and confusion, Ada and Rosa’s boyfriend, Ephraim, have grown very close. But some in the community feel Ephraim is responsible for Rosa’s disappearance. Now Rosa’s younger sister is making accusations against Ephraim that can’t be true, and he pulls away from Ada, feeling betrayed. A fire set by an arsonist might finally be the thing to reveal secrets that have long been dividing this community of friends and family. But will it be too late for love between the peacemaker and the suspect?

As usual, Wanda Brunstetter has written another heartwarming Amish tale. The missing character Rosa has deeply affected all of the characters in this story. Her disappearance has not been resolved. Her wild boyfriend Ephraim finally settled down after her disappearance. Rosa’s brother Norman refuses to believe that he isn't guilty and her best friend Ada falls in love with Ephraim. While the story is about the relationships these characters have, the Rosa thread has been written extensively into the plot. The story isn't about her though. It's about Norman and his fiance Salina, Ada and Ephraim and Norman's younger sister Susan who is just as rebellious as Rosa. 

The characters I loved the most were secondary:  Ephraim's widowed grandmother Sarah and her friend Josiah. Josiah Weaver is my favorite. He too is widowed. He needs to use a cane but has a fun personality. Josiah met Sarah while he was searching for a lost cat. He fell for Sarah right away and the two of them frequently went out together.

While Ada is the official peacemaker of the story, her mother as well as Ephraim's mother and grandmother also have this trait. Also, the story has more than a few romances going on at the same time. I think there usually is one romance per a typical Amish fiction novel but here we have several. Obviously we have Norman and Salina, Ada and Ephraim, Norman's sister Susan and her wild living boyfriend Ben, and Sarah and Josiah. There's alot of love here. . . and grief.

If you love romance you will love The Peacemaker. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Medici Return

The Medici Return is the newest and 19th installment of Steve Berry's Cotton Malone spy thriller series. The story is currently in development as a streaming series. In The Medici Return, Cotton travels to Italy in order to solve a five hundred year-old mystery.  

It is always hard to summarize a book with a complex plot so I will let the publisher summarize it for me:

Cotton Malone is on the hunt for a forgotten 16th century Pledge of Christ—a sworn promise made by Pope Julius II that evidences a monetary debt owed by the Vatican, still valid after five centuries—now worth in the trillions of dollars. But collecting that debt centers around what happened to the famed Medici of Florence—a family that history says died out, without heirs, centuries ago. 

Who will become the next prime minister of Italy, and who will be the next pope? Finding answers proves difficult until Cotton realizes that everything hinges on when, and if, the Medici return.

Former Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, has been asked to assist the Swiss guard with determining whether Cardinal Jason Richter has engaged in bribery and theft. It’s a favor for Stephanie Nelle, once his boss at the Magellan Billet, who is doing a favor for the Vatican. But nothing is as it seems. Four hundred thousand euros are found, a Swiss Guardsman is murdered, and a killer sets his sights on both Cotton and the cardinal.

Together they are thrust into a search for a forgotten document, a 16th century Pledge of Christ executed by Pope Julius II that reveals a debt owed by the Vatican, still valid after five centuries, now worth in the trillions of dollars. But when the trail to collecting that debt leads Cotton to the famed Medici of Florence—a family that history says died out, without heirs, centuries ago—he realizes that two more things also hang in the balance. Who will be the next prime minister of Italy, and who will become the next pope.

From a quiet hilltop village in central Germany, to the ancient city of Siena with its famed Palio horse race, and finally to the historic piazzas, churches, and crypts of Florence, Cotton Malone uncovers the answers, one by one, everything hinging on when, and if, the Medici return.

I have read all of the Cotton Malone books all of them have been good. The Medici Return is one of the best though. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the history of the Medici and Pazzi clans. The Pignus Christi, the Pledge of Christ, referred to in the plot is not real however. While I was still reading, I researched the pledge online and found nothing. "Pignus" is a Latin word that means "pledge" so a pignus christi is translated as the pledge of christ. In Roman law, pignus referred to a pledge given to a creditor to secure an obligation. In this story Pope Julius gave this such pledge to Giuliano de Medici in exchange for ten million flori. The Author's Note at the end of the story cleared up my question whether the Pignus Christi was real. It isn't. Berry made it up. This was creative! By the time Malone is searching for this IOU, the Medici family has died out and a man who believes he is a lawful Medici heir is also searching for it. Others who are looking for it include two powerful Cardinals, one who is striving to be the next Pope.

The pace was pleasant, neither fast nor slow. With so much history written into the novel, a slower than normal pace for a Steve Berry book was appropriate. If there was anything that bothered me it was the part where Cotton participated in a horse race in Siena called the Palio. It did not advance the plot so I am puzzled why it was inserted. Steve Berry stated that he saw this race during one of his visits to Italy and that he was fascinated by it. Maybe that is the answer to my question.

I loved The Medici Return and highly recommend it to mystery fans. 4 out of 5 stars.

The Petrus Prophecy

The Petrus Prophecy is the 3rd book in Gary McAvoy's Vatican Secret Archives Mystery series. There are 7 books in the series to date and its the best one I have read.  It was published in April 2022.

The publisher's summary:

Father Jonah Barlow is dead. The respected Jesuit scholar of apocalyptic studies might have died from a fall in his apartment . . . or was he pushed? All that is known for sure is that the provocative manuscript he was working on—a book that promised to reveal the upcoming fulfillment of ancient and recent prophecies, including the ghastly and shocking Third Secret of Fatima—is missing.

Two female detectives—one from Chicago, the other from Rome—take on the investigation as a possible homicide, turning to Vatican archivist Father Michael Dominic for his help, since Barlow sent the young priest the only other copy of the manuscript.

Newly elected Pope Ignatius, Enrico Petrini, intent on verifying the content of the manuscript against the original handwritten version of the Third Secret—which has been kept sequestered in the Pope’s personal vault for decades—discovers that the keys have been stolen. The search is on for the only other set, kept safely in the hands of a trusted monk in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, a sinister ancient order known as the Knights of the Apocalypse seem to be using the predictions of the manuscript to create fear and chaos as the prophecies appear to be coming fulfilled. Is the end of the world imminent?

From Chicago to Jerusalem to Scotland, from Rome to the ancient island nation of Malta, join Father Dominic, journalist Hana Sinclair, their trusted team of Swiss Guards, a French commando, and the two detectives as they solve the bewildering puzzles of the Petrus Prophecy.

This book was an exhilarating read. From the first chapter to the last I could not stop reading until I finished it. The death to resolve was that of Father John Barlow. Was it an accident or a homicide? The gut instinct of detective Rebecca Lancaster of the Chicago Police Department tells her that a murder was probably committed. She believes that the research Father Barlow was conducting was important enough to kill for and that she needs to know more about it in order to resolve this death investigation. After obtaining approval from her boss to travel to Italy, Rebecca contacts a friend who is a member of Rome's police force. With Sabrina Felici's assistance, Rebecca begins her investigation. 

Barlow's book was about the third secret prophecy of Our Lady of Fatima, an historical event, St. Malachy's prophecy of the last pope, Petrus Romano, and the Miracle of the Sun which occurred in Fatima in 1917 several months before three children were visited by the Virgin Mary and given a three part prophecy. The first secret was a vision of hell and the second secret was the identity of the pope during WWII. Both were publicly disclosed in the 1940s but the third secret was disclosed in May 2000 by Pope John Paul II. The Pope stated that the third message was the Virgin Mary’s vision of the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt on himself. John Paul II publicly credited Our Lady of Fátima for saving his life. The premise of this novel is that John Paul II only told part of the third secret. Barlow's involvement in the plot disappears halfway into the story. The real mystery is whether the priests who are using Barlow's ideas to force the end of the world will succeed.

There were lots of twists and turns in the story. Each twist takes the reader to a different location. The reader travels to the U. S., Rome, Scotland, Jerusalem and Malta. Knowing how to read symbols is essential to solving the mystery. The story is similar to Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series. Father Dominic and his journalist friend Hana Sinclair are both experts in this field. Hana has joined him on all of his earlier exploits. While they are searching for the keys the new pope needs, the Knights of the Apocalypse (KOTA) are making media releases concerning the end of the world. Hoarding of food and other goods  begins happening world wide and the stock markets are tumbling. 

The Petrus Prophecy is a wonderful book. Mystery lovers will want to read it. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Amish Quiltmaker's Unconventional Niece

This novel is part of an inspirational romance series featuring resourceful Colorado quiltmaker Esther Kiem by Jennifer Beckstrand. The series blends quilting with matchmaking.

The Amish Quiltmaker's Unconventional Niece opens with Mattie Zook's arrival in Byler, Colorado. She is staying with her aunt Esther and Esther's husband Levi. Mattie has always stood up for what’s right, which is why she’s been exiled from her Pennsylvania Dutch home by her father to her Aunt Esther’s farm. Outraged at local discrimination against the Amish, she’s using her rumschpringe status to run for town council. Running for political office is not part of the Amish lifestyle.

After learning that the Amish horse and buggies are no longer allowed on the main roads in Byler, Mattie wants to defeat one council member in order to have enough votes on the council to void the new law. Esther hopes that sensible local farmer Freeman Sensenig will help Mattie and keep her from going too far. Mattie is soon finding her new campaign manager all too appealing. Freeman, however, never thought that the standoffish, opinionated Mattie would care so much about others. Even more amazing, their differences are somehow making her campaign successful and have him hoping for more of a future with her. There are some unexpected obstacles and a sudden romantic rival that will put their growing closeness to the test.

This is the third book in The Amish Quiltmaker’s series but it can be a standalone novel. Mattie and Freeman are interesting but realistic characters. Mattie is a headstrong woman, which us Englischer's are led to believe isn't common among the Amish, but human nature is what it is. Freeman is also headstrong so any possible match between these two is going to be difficult to achieve. This story has the unique addition of Mattie running for the town council and Freeman acting as her campaign manager. Another Amish man helps her get on social media. There is a huge suspension of belief here but it reads well

4 out of 5 stars.

2025 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

It’s back for another year! This challenge is focused on finally finishing those series that you’ve started but not yet completed. It was previously hosted by Bea’s Book Nook, then by Celebrity Readers since 2018. Now we, Carla Loves to Read & Blue Mood Café, are the new hosts for this year and excited to keep the challenge going! I am signing up at the Recurring Series Level which requires me to read 9 - 12 different series. I have already read and reviewed books from three series so I am on a roll.

A few of the series that I hope to read this year include The Amish Quiltmaker series by Jennifer Beckstand, Indigo Teashop mysteries by Laura Childs, Cleo Coyle's Coffeehouse mysteries as well as the spy thrillers written by James Rollins, Brad Thor and Dan Silva. It would be nice to see a new cozy mystery from Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series and Lucy Connelly's Scottish Isles Mysteries. I am also working my way through Charles Finch's Charles Lenox Mysteries and the Deep Dish Mysteries by Mindy Quigley. In addition  I expect that Alaina Urquhart, Nathan Dylan Goodwin and Gary McAvoy will publish new books in 2025.

Guidelines

1. The challenge will run from January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. Books must be read during this time frame to count. 

2. Series can be already completed as well as still ongoing series, the goal is to catch up to the most recent book published by the end of 2025.

3. It doesn’t matter if you have only 1 book or 10 books to read in order to finish your series, as long as you’ve started the series before 2025 (i.e., read at least one book in the series), it counts. Rereads are not required.

4. Any format and length of book counts (print, ebook, audio, etc.)

5. Crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable!

6. Reviews are not required, but highly encouraged.

How to Play

1. Post your intentions to participate in this challenge (blog, Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.).

2. You do not need to be a blogger to participate but do need to create a challenge record/page (blog post, Goodreads shelf or topic, etc.) with the series you hope to finish or get up to date listed and tracking your progress.

3. Post your progress on social media (Facebook, BlueSky, X, Mastodon, Instagram, etc.). Include the hashtag #FinishingTheSeries2025 on your posts.

4. Include a link to this page so that others may find us and join the fun as well (feel free to download the graphic to use in your posts.

5. Feel free to be creative in developing your series lists and posts! Don’t forget to include the level you’re targeting.

6. Sign up for the challenge at the challenge post by leaving a comment with your link to your challenge page/post. 

The Levels
1. Limited Series: 1 – 4
2. Mini Series: 5 – 8
3. Recurring Series: 9 – 12
4. Syndication Series: 13 – 16
5. Primetime Series: 17+