The Christmas House

The Christmas House is an Amish fiction novella with a modern twist. While it has the usual romance and faith, I was surprised by the main character's love for the English newcomers. It was published on September 2, 2025. 

The publisher's summary:

With the holidays approaching, Liz Lantz is dedicated to using her Hickory Hollow buggy tour business to share God's love with the Englisher tourists who visit her Lancaster County community. But when her father and brother are called away for a while, Dat finds a young Amishman to assist her on the tours in her brother's place, much to Liz's dismay. Regardless, the popularity of her Christmas House Buggy Tour means she could use the help, so as the countdown to Christmas begins, she works alongside Matthew Yoder, who quickly takes a genuine interest in the tour customers--and Liz.

As an Englisher family in Hickory Hollow expresses their festive spirit with a lavishly decorated house for the second year running, Liz's Amish community becomes increasingly concerned about attracting unwanted traffic and attention, and Liz wonders if there is any way to bridge the gap to help the new neighbors feel welcome. At the same time, she grapples with her growing feelings for Matt, whose position with her is only temporary. Can she find a way to bring harmony to Hickory Hollow in time for Christmas?

I loved this book. It's a heartwarming tale of Liz Lantz's efforts to help her new neighbors. In contrast, the rest of the Amish avoided them and were disgusted by their Christmas decorations. It was surprising to me that Liz began a business taking visitors on buggy rides in Hickory Hollow. This is not something I expected an Amish person to do, let alone a female. It was also surprising that Liz took customers to her English neighbor's home, fully decked out with interior and exterior lighted decorations. Most of the Amish disapproved of the gaudy display. Why Liz did not get spoken to by the bishop is beyond me. 

There is some mystery concerning Liz's father and brother's ability to return home in time for Christmas. Her mother was depressed but there is a hint that it might be unrelated. A severe snowstorm blanketed Hickory Hollow causing the electricity to snap. While it did not affect the Amish, the Englishers lost all power including heat. Liz comes up with a plan to help them and, once again, another surprising twists happens. Let's not forget the romance. Whether Liz and Matthew become a couple is for you to find out.

The Christmas House is a relaxing read. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Deeds Left Undone

Deeds Left Undone is the 13th installment of Wine Country Mystery series by Ellen Crosby. It was published on August 5, 2025 and is another awesome entry for the series. The Wine Country series is a cozy mystery series that I have loved from its beginning. 

The publisher's summary:  

When a vineyard accident during harvest season leaves Lucie Montgomery without a valuable employee, it’s her worst nightmare. But before she can search for a replacement, there’s more bad news: Paul Merchant, her winery manager’s husband, is found dead at the bottom of his swimming pool.

Police rule Paul’s death an accident, but his wife insists he was murdered because of his leadership of Don’t Pave Paradise, a conservationist group lobbying to keep the region’s beautiful country roads unpaved. And six weeks ago, Paul’s predecessor also died under mysterious circumstances.

As Lucie is drawn into investigating Paul’s death, she discovers more than one motive for the crime—and more than one person in their close-knit community who wanted Paul dead. And when she finds an old photo of a beautiful local heiress who died tragically in a fire eighty years ago among Paul’s papers, she starts to wonder if the modern-day crime might have roots in the past.

Either way, someone is determined to make sure Lucie, who’s agreed to continue the work of Don’t Pave Paradise, hits a dead end before she even gets started. Even if it means committing murder. Again.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting reacquainted with some of my favorite characters. Lucie, Quinn and the gang are all lovable characters who get along with each other. I find it fascinating that all of the characters in a mystery series like each other. Where's the villain? Villains pop up in every novel but they're not associated with the day to day activities on the farm. I especially love that Lucie has a mobility impairment but manages to run a vineyard. It's not your average job for a person with a disability. 

I had some difficulty believing that opponents of the Don't Pave Paradise were responsible for the death of Paul Marchand and maybe another person associated with the group too. It seemed a ridiculous reason to kill someone. However, that is exactly what happened but the reason was totally unexpected. An interesting side story about an eighty year old fire exposed decades of conflict among the families in the region and filled the middle of the story. The families, however, are all connected to the crimes that are being solved in the book. Questions abound concerning whether today's families are attempting to clear their ancestors of crimes committed or whether there is another reason. There is another reason!

Deeds Left Undone is the perfect cozy mystery.  I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

The Intruder

Freida McFadden had a new book published just last week. She is the best psychological thriller author out there these days and I couldn't resist getting the book as soon as it was published. The Intruder meets the requirements of the Calendar of Crime Reading Challenge for the publication month category as it was published on October 7, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

Who knows what the storm will blow in…

Casey's cabin in the wilderness is not built for a hurricane. Her roof shakes, the lights flicker, and the tree outside her front door sways ominously in the wind. But she's a lot more worried about the girl she discovers lurking outside her kitchen window.

She's young. She's alone. And she's covered in blood.

The girl won't explain where she came from, or loosen her grip on the knife in her right hand. And when Casey makes a disturbing discovery in the middle of the night, things take a turn for the worse.

The girl has a dark secret. One she'll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning.

In this taut, deadly tale of survival and desperation, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden explores how far one girl will go to save herself.

I LOVED this book! It's another gripping psychological thriller from Freida McFadden. Like all her previous books, it engaged me from the first page and kept me reading until the last page. I could not put it down. The story has a shifting dual timeline, about twenty years apart and from four character perspectives. This made the plot more suspenseful and with short 2 or 3 page chapters, the pacing was quick. 

The story opens with a dark and stormy night and the main character Casey living in a dilapidated rural cabin. She begins to see faces looking in her cabin. This gave me that deja vu sensation. When Casey offered to give the blood covered girl a place to sleep for the night, I was shocked. Who does that? I thought the girl had just murdered someone and I would never personally allow Ella inside my home. Casey, however, let the teacher inside her allay her fears and only considered how she could help Ella. Ella was rude and I half expected Casey to send her back outdoors after making her dinner. I would have been too scared to let her stay. Casey was naive and I didn't think much of her as a character. Ella, on the other hand, played the villain well. She is a victim, though, but the reader does not know this fact in the beginning.

The story continues with plenty of twists and turns. The big reveal was a surprise that I wasn't expecting. In fact, I started reading it a second time to find all of the clues that I missed. If anything, I was disappointed in myself for missing all of the clues.

The Intruder is a winner. 5 out of 5 stars. 

The Crash

 

I love Freida McFadden books so when I needed a title for the Key Word Reading Challenge last month, I chose The Crash. I am a little behind with my reading due to a move last month but I am getting caught up. The Crash was published in January 2025.

The publisher's summary:  

Tegan is eight months pregnant, alone, and desperately wants to put her crumbling life in the rearview mirror. So she hits the road, planning to stay with her brother until she can figure out her next move. But she doesn't realize she's heading straight into a blizzard.

She never arrives at her destination.

Stranded in rural Maine with a dead car and broken ankle, Tegan worries she's made a terrible mistake. Then a miracle occurs: she is rescued by a couple who offers her a room in their warm cabin until the snow clears.

But something isn't right. Tegan believed she was waiting out the storm, but as time ticks by, she comes to realize she is in grave danger. This safe haven isn't what she thought it was, and staying here may have been her most deadly mistake yet.  

And now she must do whatever it takes to save herself―and her unborn child.

Wow! What an amazing ride from reading this novel. It's a fast paced suspense thriller about an unmarried 8 months pregnant woman who takes shelter during a snowstorm with a strange couple. Tegan doesn't want to be rescued by Hank because he is unkempt and scary looking as he approaches her crashed vehicle. She has no choice though as she has injured her foot and cannot put any weight on it. Hank takes her home because the hospital is 10 miles away, impossible to reach in a snowstorm. Hank's wife Polly is a former nurse who cares for her in their basement. A nursing suite had been built for Polly's dying mother but now Tegan is lying in their hospital bed. She doesn't trust Polly at first but is terrified of Hank.

With an intricate plot, plenty of twists, and an unexpected ending, I found it impossible to put the book down. I read it in approximately 2 hours. The story reminded me of the 1990 movie Misery with Kathy Bates. In fact, the plot of the novel is similar to the movie. The pace was pretty fast although the plot was a slow burn. The Crash is one of the best written books that I have ever read. 

I am rating the book way over 5 out of 5 stars.

The Secret of Secrets

The long wait is finally over! We finally have the newest novel by Dan Brown titled The Secret of Secrets. The book continues the Robert Langdon symbologist saga.

The publisher's summary:  

Robert Langdon, esteemed professor of symbology travels to Prague to attend a groundbreaking lecture by Katherine Solomon —a prominent noetic scientist with whom he has recently begun a relationship. Katherine is on the verge of publishing an explosive book that contains startling discoveries about the nature of human consciousness and threatens to disrupt centuries of established belief. But a brutal murder catapults the trip into chaos, and Katherine suddenly disappears along with her manuscript. Langdon finds himself targeted by a powerful organization and hunted by a chilling assailant sprung from Prague’s most ancient mythology. As the plot expands into London and New York Langdon desperately searches for Katherine . . . and for answers. In a thrilling race through the dual worlds of futuristic science and mystical lore, he uncovers a shocking truth about a secret project that will forever change the way we think about the human mind.

I love beginning a novel knowing that it will be fantastic from the first page until the last. This is what I expected from the book. The first half of the book shows Langdon searching for his friend Katherine Solomon, a noetic scientist. He does not yet know what Katherine's big discovery is but it has to do with human consciousness. I enjoyed the search. Toward the middle of the book there is alot of information about consciousness. I did not understand it though. It was too technical for me. Katherine is alleging that consciousness does not originate in the brain but from outside sources. The rest of the book discussed one scientific fact after another concerning remote viewing of the mind. Katherine used dissociative meds in her research which I found distressing. Why would anyone give another person a medication that would make them dissociate. I did not understand anything else about the science and it fills almost every page in the second half of the book. Robert Langdon's job was to solve codes that would give him and Katherine access to a secret lab called Threshold. These codes were few and far between though. 

Overall the book was enjoyable. I was expecting a treasure hunt plot but The Secret of Secrets is a science thriller instead. If science is your thing, you will love this book. As for me, it's a 3 out of 5 star story.

Ginseng Roots: A Memoir

It's always a pleasure to find hard cover copies of graphic novels by my favorite cartoonists. Two weeks ago I found Craig Thompson's newest graphic novel at an odd place: my local hospital's bookshop. Thompson is the author of the world renowned comic "Blankets" so I had high expectations for this read.

The publisher's summary:

Ginseng Roots follows Craig and his siblings, who spent the summers of their youth weeding and harvesting rows of coveted American ginseng on rural Wisconsin farms for one dollar an hour. In his trademark breathtaking pen-and-ink work, Craig interweaves this lost youth with the 300-year-old history of the global ginseng trade and the many lives it has tied together—from ginseng hunters in ancient China, to industrial farmers and migrant harvesters in the American Midwest, to his own family still grappling with the aftershocks of the bitter past.

Stretching from Marathon, Wisconsin, to Northeast China, Ginseng Roots charts the rise of industrial agriculture, the decline of American labor, and the search for a sense of home in a rapidly changing world.

To describe this memoir with one word I would say it is poignant. It is also funny and a visual masterpiece. Thompson gives the story of his life from age seven to the present. His parents were overly strict evangelical Christians and made him work every summer in local ginseng farms alongside his family for twelve to sixteen hours per day. He never had free time the way most American kids have. Thompson grew up in the rural town of Marathon, Wisconsin which is where most of the world's ginseng is grown. When his brother was old enough to join the toil, they worked next to each other telling tall tales and making games out of their labors. The activities included pulling weeds, gathering rocks out of the fields and at the end of summer, harvesting berries. It seemed abusive to me but farm families probably still operate this way. However, I felt sorry for him and his siblings not to be allowed to enjoy in the fun of summer days. Both Craig and his brother left Marathon as soon as they could seeking an easier life. They found it. Craig was lucky to work as a cartoonist, his dream job. 

The story gives the reader all the information you could ever want on how to grow and harvest ginseng. When Hmong laborers joined work on a nearby farm, Thompson tells their story from living in Laos, leaving, and starting over in America. After Thompson developed an immune system disorder, his hands were in alot of pain, affecting his ability to draw. We read about his progress with a Chinese medicine practitioner and the difficulty he dealt with in creating this wonderful book.

The artwork is striking. It has been drawn in vermilion ink with intricate details. The red color is what initially drew me to the book. The reason this color was chosen is explained at the end of the story: because he was told it should never be used.

I cannot say how much this book touched me. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

The Amish Ballerina

The Amish Ballerina is not a traditional Amish novel. Written by the granddaughter of Amish fiction icon Wanda Brunstetter, I expected a story that fit the profile of Amish fiction. After all, Wanda's name is on book cover. The book reads like a traditional fiction story instead.

The publisher's summary:

Eighteen-year-old Arie Kauffman loves to twirl and leap around the barn in her Amish bonnet and dress, practicing ballet moves her English friend taught her. Her parents would be upset to learn that this longtime interest has progressed to her secretly attending ballet classes. Arie even hides her dance skills from her boyfriend, Edwin Chupp, who often invites her to try new things, knowing she has an artistic heart. Her secrecy, however, is causing damage she may not be able to repair. When offered new opportunities to dance, will Arie break from Amish tradition or hold true to the bonds of her faith and family?

I was disappointed with the book. The idea of an Amish ballet dancer is preposterous. Also, neither parent of the main character, Arie, were nurturing. Arie's boyfriend Edwin likewise had interests in taboo Amish activities such as competitive horseriding. He also had parents who were not nurturing in the Amish faith. In traditional Amish fiction at least one parent encourages faith and behaves appropriately. Here, we have parents who just criticize their kids over and over for no good reason.

I usually read an Amish fiction novel in 90 minutes. The Amish Ballerina took me a few days to get through. This is not because the plot was dull. It's because the storyline reads like general fiction. I didn't want to finish reading the book but kept reading because I thought I was missing something. I wasn't. I am sorry to rate the book 2 out of 5 stars.

The Pretender

This is the third book in the Mifflin County Mystery series by Wanda Brunstetter. It is an Amish fiction novel with some suspense and I enjoyed reading it. In this installment of the series we see the return of the prodigal daughter, along with her unborn child and a pretend spouse.

The publisher's summary: 

In book three of the Mifflin County Mystery series, Rosa Petersheim’s return creates more hurt and confusion in the Big Valley. 

Two years  since Rosa Petersheim mysteriously disappeared from her Amish home, there has been no word from her. Her family and friends have suffered in the silence, though they have tried to move on with life.

Then one day Rosa just as suddenly reappears at her parent’s home. . with a husband in tow.

Rosa is ashamed of the choices she made that caused her to leave home. And now that she is back, her father is not welcoming and her siblings and friends want explanations that she can’t give.

Will Rosa’s family accept her and Anthony? Can the Big Valley ever be home again? 

This is a book that is hard to put down once you’ve started reading it. I was drawn into the story from the first chapter. 

The story focuses on how harmful lies can be and how one lie will lead to another one. This focus really grabbed my attention. It made me think. The  author illustrated how a lie can have lasting effects on people. We think that if we hide something it will not be found out but it will. 

The book is a standalone novel but it would be best to read the first two books in the series first. 

5 out 5 stars.

Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York

Entitled is a biography of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.  For the past couple of years, I have fallen into the trap of reading gossipy books on Britain's royal family. I knew it would be a fast read and would help me relax from a stressful September. 

The publisher's summary:

This explosive biography of the Duke and Duchess of York - - Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson – exposes the secrets and scandals behind their extravagant lives and troubled marriage.

Entitled presents an unvarnished and meticulously researched account of two of the most controversial figures in modern royal history. Based on years of investigation, extensive Freedom of Information requests and more than a hundred interviews with previously silent sources, acclaimed royal expert Andrew Lownie delivers an authoritative and deeply revealing dual portrait of the Duke and Duchess, whose lives and relationship have ben marked by privilege, controversy, and public fascination.

Tracing their stories from childhood through their high-profile courtship and marriage, dramatic divorce, and enduring connection as “the happiest divorced couple in the world,” Entitled digs deeper than ever before into a pair that has long been a source of scrutiny. Lownie examines Prince Andrew’s trajectory from a celebrated naval officer to a disgraced royal accused of sexual assault and stripped of his public duties, and unpacks the truth of his lavish lifestyle and the enduring fallout from his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

More than just a story of personal failings or royal scandal, Entitled examines the broader context of a monarchy navigating public accountability and the pressures of modernity. The result is a compelling and nuanced portrait of a flawed couple whose lives have defined and defied the expectations of royalty in the 21zst century, and whose actions continue to resonate far beyond the palace walls.

Entitled is an appropriate name for the book. I was surprised how entitled Sarah Ferguson became after her marriage to Andrew and how quickly she changed.  I knew Andrew behaved entitled but was not aware that Sarah acted the same way. In many ways she manipulated her husband by appealing to his sense of entitlement. Simularly, Meghan Markle did the same with Prince Harry. Both wives are the dominant partners in their marriages. Andrew and Sarah truly belong with each other. They are two of a kind. 

The book reads fast. All of the chapters are three pages long. Sarah's story was the most interesting to me, probably because I didn't know much about her. The author begins with her birth and follows Sarah up to the present. It seems that after Sarah's mother left the family for another man when she was four, Sarah blamed herself for what happened and covered up her insecurity with boisterous behavior. She never was able to overcome her new boisterous personality which caused her to make so many mistakes as a member of the royal family. Queen Elizabeth tried to rein her in on several occasions but was unsuccessful. Sarah spent money she didn't have and her debts were paid by the Queen or Andrew at least ten times. She never stopped spending. The family wondered whether she was having a nervous breakdown.

Entitled was a relaxing read. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

Pain Killers: A Year in the ER

I no sooner posted that I wouldn't be doing much reading this month when I received a message from Book Sirens about a review for the above book coming due. So I read it last night. Last year I read author Rachel Callaghan's Under Water. It was my second best book for 2024, behind a graphic novel, so it was technically my best fiction novel. Callaghan is a former ER physician. The story is in the epistolary form where the plot is revealed through physicians’ notes, ER logbook entries, and letters between the characters. It was published on July 25, 2025.

The publisher's summary:  

The year is 1978. Mary Grace Kelly flees to a new city with a set of scrubs, a nursing license, and a secret. She hopes to hide in this bustling blur of cranky patients and even crankier physicians. Complaining to her sister back home, Mary Grace’s letters describe her arrogant, infuriating colleague Dr. David Korn, who wears his sarcasm like another white coat. But when her therapy sessions land her in a waiting room with this man, her irritation turns into intrigue. Their reluctant bond deepens until her father’s illness yanks Mary Grace back into her unresolved trauma.

David’s sexual frustrations leak out with wry, Jewish humor in notes to his brother. His sibling is quick to point to David’s past relationship failures as evidence that he’s a “self-indulgent bastard.” For all his bluster, David wants something more meaningful but knows his family will never approve of his relationship with Catholic Mary Grace. She’s challenging all his preconceived notions, but does he have the patience to wait for her to find the healing she needs?

A vaudevillian uncle, a retired nun, and an elderly vagrant conspire to help Mary Grace find her way. But she must first learn to trust again.

The fast-paced, epistolary style of Pain Killers allows the reader to eavesdrop on the controlled chaos in emergency care. Before desktop computers, the relentless rhythm of the ER was documented through a heap of administrative paperwork. Callaghan skillfully weaves a story from this patchwork, revealing the humanity behind the charts and clipboards in short snatches dripping with subtext. Like the emergency room it chronicles, Pain Killers taps the vein between protocol and improv.

Rx for busy readers on the go

Prescribe this book to readers jonesing for the insider grit of medical fiction compounded with the warmth of a romantic dramedy microdosed in snippets. Severe to moderate distraction may occur: failing to notice you’ve been called to dinner, you’ve missed your subway stop, or your professor has asked what you’re reading. Take as needed to alleviate symptoms of boredom, existential nausea, or the yearning for human connection.

The story was cute. I enjoyed the epistolary form, especially the doctor and nurse notes on patients.  I know that the notes are true to life because I worked in a hospital way back in the 1970s. The book isn't a mystery as I expected it would be but rather general fiction. It was a nice break from my usual fare but I have to admit that there wasn't much suspense. Even so, I read it in one sitting. Pain Killers was a relaxing way to spend an evening. Mary Grace is the main character. She had something awful happen to her when she was a teen but it wasn't revealed until the middle of the novel. For the remainder of the story she tried dealing with her emotions, somewhat successfully. I noticed that Mary Grace was constantly writing her sister letters but that sister Kathleen never responded. Clue number one. Dr. David Korn annoys her so she tries avoiding him. As I expected, they eventually began dating. Clue number two. They are very different people but their relationship seems to work. Mary Grace is a strong Roman Catholic while Dave is a non-practicing Jew. 

Pain Killers: A Year in the ER is a sweet, uncomplicated story. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Baker of Lost Memories

The Baker of Lost Memories is a Holocaust survivor story. It is an epic family saga that spans several decades and has multiple timelines. The author is the daughter of Holocaust survivors and is well qualified to write about the subject.

The publisher's summary:

From the author of A Castle in Brooklyn comes an epic novel spanning decades about the broken bonds of family, memories of war, and redemption and hope in the face of heartbreaking loss.

Growing up in 1960s Brooklyn, Lena wants to be a baker just like her mother was back in Poland prior to World War II. But questions about those days, and about a sister Lena never even knew, are ignored with solemn silence. It’s as if everything her parents left behind was a subject never to be broached.

The one person in whom Lena can confide is her best friend, Pearl. When she suddenly disappears from Lena’s life, Lena forges ahead: college, love and marriage with a wonderful man, the dream of owning a bakery becoming a reality, and the hope that someday Pearl will return to share in Lena’s happiness―and to be there for her during the unexpected losses to come.

Only when Lena discovers the depth of her parents’ anguish, and a startling truth about her own past, can they rebuild a family and overcome the heart-wrenching memories that have torn them apart.

The story is told in dual timelines. There is the 1930s and 1940s Poland and 1960s America. The 1930s saga is the most compelling. Anya and her husband Josef owned a bakery in Lodz. We read about Anya's family gradually losing civil rights and their heroic move to the U. S. after losing their disabled daughter to the Nazis. Anya, however, brought her baking skills with her and began passing them on to Lena.

Lena had a career path and began attending college to bring her dreams to fruition. Boyfriend Luke stopped her in her tracks and Lena gave up everything to live with him. She stopped seeing her parents and dropped our of college. Lena thought that when you fall in love you give everything up for your mate. She was not as strong as her mother and I am not sure why. She was raised to be a tough woman.

The story is both Anya and Lena's. Lena longs to bake as expertly as her mother and dreams of owning her own bakery someday. Her distant mother discourages her. Lena believes that she is a reminder of the loss of her sister Ruby. Since this is a story about Jewish bakers the reader gets to see the characters making Jewish dishes as well as baked treats. 

I loved this bittersweet novel and am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

The List

The List is a standalone novel by Steve Berry. Berry has written nineteen Cotton Malone novels, six stand-alone thrillers, two Luke Daniels adventures, and several works of short fiction. This novel is a murder mystery and I loved it.

The publisher's summary:

After a ten-year self-imposed exile, Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, a quaint town in central Georgia nestled close to the Savannah River. Two years ago his father died and now Brent, hired by Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company as its assistant general counsel, is returning to care for his ailing mother.

For decades Southern Republic has invested heavily in Concord, creating a thriving community where its employees live, work, and retire. But the genteel sheen of this quiet town is deceiving, and when a list of cryptic code surfaces, Brent starts to see the cracks.

Southern Republic’s success is based largely on a highly unorthodox and deadly system to control costs, known only to the three owners of the company. Now, one of them, Christopher Bozin, has had a change of heart. Brent’s return to Concord, a move Bozin personally orchestrated, provides his conscience with a chance at redemption. So a plan is set into motion, one that will not only criminally implicate Bozin’s two partners, but also place Brent Walker square in the crosshairs of men who want him dead—with only one course left available.

Find and reveal the shocking secret of the list.

This story is a page turner. In fact, I believe it has a faster pace than Berry's Cotton Malone books and that is saying something. The book opens with the first murder of the story and then moves to the main character, Brent Walker, returning to his hometown Concord, Georgia from Atlanta. Walker was an attorney working for the Fulton County State's Attorney where he prosecuted murders. His mother's poor health prompted his return. As Walker assimilates back into his rural community, he becomes involved with union negotiations for a new contract at the paper mill. This time, he represents the mill. 

I enjoyed reading about the Middle Georgia setting. Having visited it myself once or twice, I had a trip down memory lane. Even reading the author’s words "middle Georgia" brought a smile. What I didn't know was that author Steve Berry grew up in a similar paper town in Middle Georgia, which is why his descriptions are spot on. 

The characters are complex. The two main protagonists are Brent Walker and his childhood buddy Hank. Hank has been the union president for 20 odd years and always gets what he wants. He was even the mayor if Concord for awhile. There are several villains. It is hard to choose just one as being the baddest. The paper mill's three owners were the masterminds behind the list. However, their security hires are the folks who do the dirty work concerning the list. I am not going to be a spoiler but you may be able to determine what the list is from the review I've given.

The List is spellbinding. You simply must read this book. 5 out of 5 stars.

All The Words We Know

I selected this book for the Key Word Reading Challenge. August has the word "word" as one of the six options in a book title. It is a suspense novel by Bruce Nash who has written three books. Words is the first book of his to be published in the United States.

The publisher's summary:

Rose may be in her eighties and suffering from dementia, but she’s not done with life just yet. Alternately sharp as a tack and spectacularly forgetful, she spends her days roaming the corridors of her assisted living facility, musing on the staff and residents, and enduring visits form her emotionally distant children and granddaughters. But when her friend is found dead after an apparent fall from a window, Rose embarks on an eccentric and determined investigation to discover the truth and uncover all manner of secrets…even some from her own past.

The story is not what I expected.  The publisher's summary indicates that Rose investigates the death of a friend who lives in a nearby room in their assisted living facility. It's not like investigations we see in murder mysteries. Rose has severe dementia. She mispronounces almost every word and understands nothing. However, when her friend who uses a wheelchair dies after jumping out of her window onto the parking lot, she knows that's impossible. Her friend could not walk on her own. A few days later Rose sees a nurse enter another person's room with a pillow. The next morning this person is found to have died in their sleep. She now knows how her friend died. Rose uses the diary given to her to keep track of events to secretly write down the clues she discovers.  It seems that when patients run out of money that the "angry nurse" comes by with a pillow and that patient dies "in their sleep."  That this happens is not surprising to me.

The author did a good job of describing how people with dementia behave and speak. However, he went too far. The book wasn't readable with all of the babbling. It became annoying after a few chapters. The more I have thought about it, the more it seems condescending and not funny as the author intended. On top of that Rose's investigation began more than halfway after the first chapter. That is way too late for a mystery.

Words was a disappointment. The premise of an assisted living resident solving a murder was interesting which is why I picked the book to read. No rating. 

The Patchwork Players

I received an advanced review copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on April 14, 2026! It’s another entry into the Elm Creek Quilts series by Jennifer Chiaverini. This series is probably my favorite of all time so I was thrilled to get a copy of it.

The publisher's summary:

The cast of a smash TV show arrives at a quilter’s retreat for week of camaraderie and creativity that takes some surprising twists in this heartwarming new installment of Jennifer Chiaverini’s much-beloved Elm Creek Quilts series.

Acclaimed TV actress Julia Merchaud almost can’t believe her good fortune. Her beloved historical drama, A Patchwork Life, revived her career and made stars of several younger actors. But Julia’s happiness turns to dismay when she learns that the hit show will have only one more season. Can she convince everyone to stay just a little longer?

Inspiration comes after a conversation with Summer Sullivan, one of the expert quilters who helped Julia prepare for her role. When Summer confides that Elm Creek Quilt Camp is in financial trouble, Julia concocts a brilliant plan that will help the Elm Creek Quilters and herself.

Julia sets about persuading the cast and crew to join her for what she promises will be a marvelous week at a luxurious nineteenth-century mansion amid the autumnal splendor of central Pennsylvania, a creative and dynamic working vacation they’ll never forget. Secretly, she hopes the bonding experience will convince them to abandon their other plans and sign on for another few seasons. But after several joyful days of quilting and camaraderie, Julia’s scheme takes an unexpected turn. Soon she’ll have to make hard choices about which matters more—career or friendship.

I thought the beginning was slow. It was different from how earlier books in the series opened so maybe my expectations contributed to my less than ideal enjoyment of the beginning. I must admit,  though, that the information we get from those early chapters was integral to the plot. It just caught me off guard. 

When the story moved to the Elm Creek Quilters I became fully engaged. However, these scenes did not last long. The main character was not from Elm Creek Quilters but rather Julia Marchand, an actress in the A Patchwork Life TV show. There were several new characters. All of them worked with Julia on the show. There was some mystery whether the shows 6th season would be the last. Julia was the only person who wanted the show to continue. The Elm Creek Quilters scenes constituted about half of the story.

I did not feel the usual glow after finishing an Elm Creek Quilters novel. Most of the prominent characters were new. I was hoping to reconnect with the regular Elm Creek characters but they did not have much of a role. 

If you want to learn how to quilt then this book is for you. The classes that Julia’s group signed up for explained all of the basics on how to pick fabrics, including values, to sewing tips. As a lifelong quilter, I concur with their methods. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Muybridge

Muybridge is the graphic biography of Eadweard Muybridge. He was one of the earliest pioneers in photography during the nineteenth century. He is famous for his time sequence of a horse galloping. Cartoonist Guy Delisle brings this unknown photographer to life in this book.

The publisher's summary:

Sacramento, California, 1870. Pioneer photographer Eadweard Muybridge becomesentangled in railroad robber baron Leland Stanford’s delusions of grandeur. Tasked withproving Stanford’s belief that a horse’s hooves do not touch the ground while galloping atfull speed, Muybridge gets to work with his camera. In doing so, he inadvertently createsone of the single most important technological advancements of our age―the invention of time-lapse photography and the mechanical ability to capture motion.

Critically-acclaimed cartoonist Guy Delisle (Pyongyang, Hostage) returns with anotherengrossing foray into nonfiction: a biography about Eadweard Muybridge, the man whomade pictures move. Despite career breakthrough after career breakthrough, Muybridgewould only be hampered by betrayal, intrigue, and tragedy. Delisle’s keen eye for detailsthat often go unnoticed in search of a broader emotional truth brings this historical figureand those around him to life through an uncompromising lens.

Translated from the French by Helge Dascher & Rob Aspinall, Muybridge turns a spotlighton what lives in the shadow of an individual’s ambition for greatness, and proves thatEadweard Muybridge deserves to be far more than just another historical footnote.

The biography begins with Muybridge as an adult and continues until his death. He traveled to the U.S. west coast to take the first photos of Yosemite and American Indians and was known nationwide for his feats. He also traveled to Europe in order to obtain more job assignments. He married but was never home, always traveling to a photo shoot. His wife got bored and cheated on him, getting pregnant in the process. Muybridge exploded in rage when he found out. I was surprised by his anger because, after all, he could be away from home for as long as a year. 

The art work was done in black and white drawings in comic strip panels. It was cool to see Muybridge's actual photos throughout the book too. The dialogue was spot on and showed how big Muybridge's ambitions were.

I enjoyed reading about one of our early pioneers in this field. I wish, however, that Delisle would write more travelogues. I loved reading them.  5 out of 5 stars.

An Inside Job

An Inside Job is Dan Silva's 25th Gabriel Allon spy thriller. The hero, Allon, is a retired Israeli spy who now works as an art restorer in Venice. This installment of the series is an art theft thriller. Allon, however, uses associates from his spy career to solve the mystery.

The publisher's summary: 

Sometimes the only way to recover a stolen masterpiece is to steal it back . . .

Gabriel Allon has been awarded a commission to restore one of the most important paintings in Venice. But when he discovers the body of a mysterious woman floating in the waters of the Venetian Lagoon, he finds himself in a desperate race to recover a lost masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci.

The painting, a portrait of a beautiful young girl, has been gathering dust in a storeroom at the Vatican Museums for more than a century, misattributed and hidden beneath a worthless picture by an unknown artist. Because no one knows that the Leonardo is there, no one notices when it disappears one night during a suspicious power outage. No one but the ruthless mobsters and moneymen behind the theft -- and the mysterious woman whom Gabriel found in a watery grave in Venice. A woman without a name. A woman without a face.

The action moves at breakneck speed from the galleries and auction houses of London to an enclave of unimaginable wealth on the French Riviera -- and, finally, to a shocking climax in St. Peter's Square, where the life of a pope hangs in the balance. An elegant and stylish journey through the dark side of the art world and the Vatican's murky finances, An Inside Job proves once again that Daniel Silva is the reigning master of international intrigue and suspense.

Silva writes intense suspense stories and An Inside Job is one of his finest. It is impossible to take a break from reading the book as each chapter ends with suspense. Silva thoroughly researched the politics of the countries involved in the story, historical facts, the art of the old masters, as well as the restoration of oil paintings before beginning to write. I learned alot about the art world from reading the book. The information about the restoration of paintings went over my head because Silva was quite technical in the description of the materials that his character Allon used.

This installment of the series had the most character development. With the spy business put aside, Allon could concentrate on his relationships with his wife and kids. It was cute to see the brash Gabriel Allon playing with his kids and even attempting to cook. He is not domestic but is growing in that regard. Wife Chiara is seen as the main breadwinner which I thought was about time. Chiara manages the art restoration business for Gabriel. 

The pace is fast from the first page but it speeds up during the final third of the book. Resolving the mystery surrounding the stolen artwork seemed similar to Allon's spy escapades. He used his connections from that part of his life to find and return the art.

An Inside Job is a fun and fast read read. Mystery lovers are going to want to read it. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Last Patient

I received an advanced review copy of this book from Librarything's Early Reviewer's Club. The book was published in February 2025. It is set both in post WWII Romania and modern day Romania. 

The publisher's summary:  

THE LAST PATIENT is a sweeping historical novel that captures one family’s struggle for love, survival, and identity under the grip of Communism in Romania. Spanning fifty years of political upheaval, this saga explores how ordinary lives are shaped—and sometimes shattered—by extraordinary times.

Kostea and Clara meet and fall in love shortly before World War II. As they get married, build careers, and raise a son, the world around them changes rapidly—and often violently. From the two-bedroom apartment they are “patriotically” forced to share with another family, to Bucharest’s rampant food shortages, Romania’s Cold War history plays out in their day-to-day lives.

Kostea, a charming yet domineering surgeon, craves control in a place where party loyalists hold the reins of power. His pursuit of respect and authority threatens his promising medical career and his relationships at home, risking Clara’s love. While the temptation to break through the Iron Curtain is omnipresent, defection to the West comes with its own uncertainties. Ultimately, The Last Patient is a poignant exploration of the eternal tension between personal aspirations and love.

This book grabbed me from the start and pulled me in. I fell in love with Clara and Kostea's family. Both of them were polite and helpful to each other as a married couple should be. Clara’s mother Ina and their son Alexander, nicknamed Toddy, were adorable as well. They are the type of people who follow all the rules. They obeyed the rules set by their country's communist government and respected societal rules governing relationships between men and women. The only activity the communists were angry with them was over Clara and Kostea having their son Toddy baptized in church. The Party was opposed to all religions. Both Clara and Kostea are doctors so they were held in high esteem by the government and by their local neighbors. 

The communist ideology of Romania was the setting of the novel. While the family lived in Bucharest there wasn't much of a description of the architecture, foods and customs other than the depths to which the characters had to go go in order to get housing and groceries. Lying on housing applications was the norm so that when one family member no longer needed their apartment, another family member could move in without upsetting the communists. Standing in line for hours just to buy bread or other groceries was also a norm. Clara frequently became too tired to cook dinner after a full day at work and then hours in line for food. They were lucky that Clara’s mother Ina lived with them and helped out. Kostea easily did favors for his superiors and received perks in return. He was lucky to travel throughout Europe as he attended medical conferences. Even though the family had to daily deal with new rules set by the communists, they were privileged.

I loved this family saga. They all eventually ended up in the U. S. and the identity of the last patient was a surprise, a sad surprise. Historical fiction fans will enjoy this new setting for the genre. 5 out of 5 stars.

Edge of Honor

 

Edge of Honor was published several days ago on July 1, 2025. I have read each book in this Scot Harvath spy series so I just had to get a copy of this book. The book meets the requirements of the Calendar of Crime Reading Challenge for the publication month category.

The publisher's summary:

After six months abroad, America’s top spy returns to a new administration, a new set of global priorities, and a power struggle—the likes of which the United States has never experienced.

Drawn into a web of deceit and deadly politics, Scot Harvath is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy that could change the course of history. A cabal of shadowy elites is maneuvering for control and if they succeed, they will bring the country to its knees.

When trust is fleeting and survival means making impossible decisions, Harvath finds himself at the precipice. The actions he takes will shape the future of America—and might cost him everything he holds dear.

With enemies at every turn, one wrong move could push the nation over the edge.

This was a fun read. The suspense wasn't as intense as earlier books in the series but the plot still moved quickly. Harvath's character has mellowed since his marriage to Solvi and I think that's a good sign of character growth. Many readers of this series may disagree, wanting Harvath to remain a hardcore spy. However, with 24 books published already, it is past time for Harvath to develop as a character. How has he mellowed? First of all, Harvath took second place in the ambassador's protection. He was not in charge of the details unless the plan didn't work and Harvath had to improvise. Secondly, his dialogue with Solvi showed her to be his equal. He joked about calling Solvi's boss to report her transgressions. I was surprised to see him defer to her on several occasions. 

The plot seemed to be ripped from today's newspapers. There was a mass shooting near the Vice President’s mansion, a populist president with supporters who behave similar to MAGAists, disloyal Secret Service and FBI officers, and a nation divided by ideology. The Iranians were suspected of killing the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense in one evening attack. Their deaths were attributed to heart attacks but Harvath didn't buy that reasoning. This part of the story reminded me of the recent Israeli attacks in Iran killing military leaders in one evening. It was not Iran, however. 

Edge of Honor is a fun and fast read. Mystery lovers will enjoy it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Into the Leopard's Den

Into the Leopard's Den is the 4th Bangalore Detectives Club Mystery. The series takes place in 1920s India and features Kaveri Murtha as the main character. Initially this installment of the series Kaveri investigates several murders occurring in Bangalore and Coorg. The book was published on July 1, 2025.

The publisher's summary:

Bangalore, 1922: Pregnant and confined to the house by her protective mother-in-law, Kaveri Murthy has resolved to take a break from detection. But when an elderly woman is murdered at night and dies clutching a photograph of Kaveri while asking for her help—how can she refuse? Missing the assistance of her husband Ramu, who is working in Coorg, Kaveri investigates her new case with her able assistants, milk boy Venu and housemaid Anandi. They find a trail of secrets that lead them to suspect the killer may be in Coorg.

Eager to be reunited with her husband, Kaveri sets off to Coorg to investigate. When she arrives, she encounters a thorny thicket of cases. Why does a ghost leopard prowl the forests at night, terrorizing the plantation workers? And who is trying to kill Colonel Boyd, the Coffee King of Coorg? She finds suspects in every coffee bush and estate—from Boyd’s surly plantation manager and security guard to the feuding brothers who own the neighboring plantation—and the many women the Coffee King has pursued and abandoned.

When two vulnerable children appeal for her help, Kaveri is drawn deeper into the case, becoming emotionally involved in finding the killer. Soon, one murder turns into two—and then a few days later into three. Now the killer has tasted blood and needs to be stopped. Racing against time, Kaveri must take on her most complex challenge so far, with the assistance of Anandi and Venu in Bangalore, and with Ramu and Inspector Ismail in Coorg. In this stunning new novel by an acclaimed master of the form, the Bangalore Detectives Club must find and expose a brutally intelligent killer before they strike again.

I have read every book in the series and loved getting reacquainted with the characters. Kaveri was a little less aggressive in this particular investigation, obviously because she was 8 to 9 months pregnant. Kaveri used to avoid her mother in law as much as possible. Now she enjoys the pampering she receives from her. Her husband Rami took a more active roll in the investigation than normal. He loves her enough to stop what he's doing to help assuage Kaveri's curiosity about the case. It's lovely to see this happening, particularly because it wasn't typical for the era.

The murders kept piling up giving Kaveri 5 mysteries to solve. She didn't get far though. All she was able to do was eliminate several suspects. Inspector Ismail, an old friend, worked out the identity of the killer but received some assistance from Rami and Kaveri. A re-occurring fear among the residents has to do with several sightings of an albino leopard cub. The fear is that this ghost will eat children. It plays a part in the mystery but you will never guess what that is! The story ended with Kaveri delivering a baby girl. It was a sweet ending for this tale. As I was reading I got the feeling that this series is a cozy. I have never categorized it before as a cozy historical mystery but it fits well.

5 out of 5 stars.

Part of the Solution

I received an advanced review copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on July 14, 2025.

The publisher's summary: 

It's 1978, and Jennifer Morgan, a sassy New Yorker, has escaped to the counterculture village of Flanders, Massachusetts. Her peaceful life is disrupted when one of her customers at the Café Galadriel is found dead. Everyone is a suspect—including the gentle artisan woodworker, the Yeats-wannabe poet, the town's anti-war hero, the peace-loving Episcopalian minister, and the local organic farmer who can hold a grudge.

Concern for her community prompts Jennifer to investigate the murder with the sometimes-reluctant help of Ford McDermott, a young police officer. Little does she know that the solution lies in the hidden past.

Part of the Solution blends snappy dialogue, unconventional settings, and a classic oldies soundtrack, capturing the essence of a traditional whodunnit in a counterculture era. ​

I have a rule that I cease reading a book if I am not interested by page fifty. With this book page 50 is where the story took off. This is when the murder occurred. The investigation though was slow, even nonexistent, until page 175. 

While I am over 60 and am familiar with the hippie language and outlook on life, I doubt that younger readers will understand or even care about it. There was too much culture written in to the story and not enough action. Dialogue between the characters on topics unrelated to solving the murder was prominent. In fact, too prominent. There was little action other than the characters talking together and working. A good writing tip would be to use only 2 or 3 hippie idioms and concentrate on solving the crime. A writer can always add more culture in future books. It's best not to go overboard with the culture. It confuses the reader.

Jennifer Morgan is the protagonist. I know this because of the publisher's summary. Her 7 or 8 friends have equal billing in the book though. It's hard to tell who is supposed to be in charge of the investigation. Of course there wasn't much of an investigation either by the police or the characters. 

I was disappointed with this book. It had several problems. There was no main character, no investigation and way too much culture. 2 out of 5 stars.