Decaf Deceit

Decaf Deceit is the sixth Brown's Grounds Mystery. This cozy mystery was released on July 14, 2026. The series features Monica Brown as the amateur sleuth. Monica owns a popular coffee truck in Millpond.

The publisher's summary:

In Millpond, Monica Brown's mornings run on a simple recipe: a hot cup, a friendly smile through the order window, and a sheriff who flirts in $5.80 increments. The recipe does not include a swollen jaw, a stolen prescription, and a dead woman holding a slip of paper with Monica's name on it.

When Tawny Clifford, owner of Cliff's Boutique and one of Millpond's least-loved residents, turns up dead in her office, the rumor mill points everywhere at once. Tawny had enemies. She also, apparently, had hydrocodone in her system. The same hydrocodone Monica was prescribed after her wisdom teeth came out. The same hydrocodone that's mysteriously short two pills.

Sheriff Nathan Thomas wants to believe her. The Edgewater Community Council does not. And as Monica digs through a snobby tennis club, a boutique full of secrets, and a regular customer who knows a little too much, she realizes the most dangerous person in Millpond might be the one who looks the most harmless.

Because the strongest brew isn't always the one that gets you. It's the one you'd never see coming.

While the book is only 144 pages the author has written a crisp story that follows the mystery format perfectly. The death occurs early and there are several twists and one amazing red herring. I liked the characters. Monica is a tough lady who always says what she means. She doesn't have much of a filter. Monica is romantically involved with the sheriff. Sheriff Nathan is a pushover but he's a good friend to have especially when people suspect you of killing someone. The deceased was an obnoxious wealthy woman who loved throwing her weight around.

Monica decided to be proactive in her investigation. It was better to solve the crime than let the police drag their heels. She took big risks to learn everything she could about the deceased. She felt that this was the best approach to begin gathering information. Her observation skills were prominent, especially in the beginning with the details she remembered about each of her customers.

If there is anything unbelievable about the book its Monica's ability to return to work the day after having all four wisdom teeth removed in one surgery. I was a mess for several weeks after having one removed many years ago. This was a suspension of belief too far for me to go.

Decaf Deceit was a fun, relaxing read. Cozy lovers will enjoy it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Death at a Scottish Halloween

This is the fifth Scottish Isle Mystery by Lucy Connelly. It was just published on August 11, 2026 and features Dr. Emilia McRoy as the "amateur" sleuth. Amateur is in quotes because Em is a physician who also functions as the town coroner. These jobs give her access to alot of information she normally wouldn't have, making her sleuthing much easier. In this Halloween themed story, Em finds a dead body in a haunted house.

The publisher's summary:

It’s the week of Halloween—or as they say in Scotland, All Hallows' Eve—and the town of Sea Isle is full of spooky celebrations. Dr. Emilia McRoy loves being part of her new community and is eager to help out in any way she can. But the festivities are interrupted when she and her assistant, Abigail, find a dead body in a haunted house. A real one. They’re too late to save the victim, but they’ll do whatever it takes to find his killer. 

There’s just one problem: There are too many suspects. Constable Ewan would prefer the good doctor and her friends stay out of the investigations, but that isn’t how Dr. Em rolls. As she and her gang investigate, they realize the killer is searching for something—and has no problem murdering anyone who gets in the way of finding it. 

Dr. Em must stay one step ahead if she’s to survive this Halloween season alive—either that or she might just end up the next victim.

The story opened with the Haunted House Festival in full swing. Em and Abigail created a spooky autopsy room with a knife stuck in a fake dead body. Em used a knife from her kitchen and when the event was over for the day she looked for her knife. It was gone. By the end of the night a dead body was discovered; the body of Duncan Craig. The festival continued the next day but when Em arrived back home she found another dead body propped up against her door. His name was also Duncan Craig. 

The investigation began with the autopsies that Em performed. She also was able to obtain information at the local pub where the residents of Sea Isle imbibe most days and evenings. Nothing is a secret in this small village. Her first priority was to determine whether the deaths were connected. Usually Constable Ewen is a source of at least some information but in this installment of the series he primarily provided security at the public events as well as at Em's house. The locals continued to inquire whether the two of them were in a romance.

The story moved along at a nice pace with all of the twists and turns that I have come to expect from this author. It was a fun read. 5 out of 5 stars.

Landing in Place

Landing in Place is a coming of age story in graphic novel format. Anisa is the main character. She is an Egyptian American teen trying to excel just like her older sister Reem, a medical doctor. The book was published on May 19, 2026 and was written for kids over the age of twelve.

Synopsis 

Anisa is the American child of two Egyptian immigrants. Her father is a pilot and is gentle. Her mother criticizes Anisa constantly. Anisa graduates high school one year early and is lucky to be admitted to Reem’s alma mater. Her parents insist that she take the same pre-med track that Reem passed with flying colors. Anisa wants to study art but her parents don't believe art is a good career choice. After flunking out of her first college semester Anisa joins Reem in Egypt where Reem is undergoing an internship in kidney medicine. Here Anisa's eyes are opened to the social and religious expectations of her as a Muslim woman.

My Thoughts 

The book tells a compelling story about second generation immigrants. While Anisa's father has religious beliefs that he keeps to himself, her mother smokes, cusses and abhors politics and religion. None of her mother’s pronouncements bother Anisa until she returns home after a several months in Egypt. Anisa has been changed by living there and has begun to wear the hijab and attend prayers in the mosque. However, it is not explained why Anisa has had this transformation. Perhaps she just followed the Egyptian lifestyle but if that was the reason then Anisa should have given it all up when she returned to the U.S. This omission is a mistake in my opinion.

I did not understand the Islamic lifestyle. I am not a Muslim. After her transformation Anisa feels that kissing her Sikh boyfriend is a mistake because she wears the hijab. She feels that it gives Muslims a bad reputation in the eyes of the rest of the world. There is an unspoken theory that non-Muslims expect all Muslim women to be 100% chaste. Anisa's mother challenges her on this particular issue. I feel that the author should have expounded on this issue too. The book also contains commentary on the Islamic lifestyle from both practicing and non practicing Muslims. There is also alot of quotes from the Quran. They are translated into English  but I did not understand the meaning.

The book is a fast read. I felt it was lighthearted even though serious issues are portrayed. I enjoyed reading it and would like to see a sequel.  4 out of 5 stars.

Salvage

Salvage is a graphic romance. The plot follows two young artists whose paths intertwine as they navigate the complexities of love. It was published on July 21, 2026 and was written for those over the age of 14. 

The publisher's summary:

Paolo lives in the Flats, a dangerous, water-logged community where families survive by salvaging materials from skyscrapers hidden just beneath the ocean’s surface—remnants of a world before sea levels rose. Scavenging the depths comes with its risks, but when Paolo discovers a suitcase of designer clothes, he decides to fulfill his dream: To spend one night in the Uplands, a place of privilege, excess, and freedom. There he meets Jules and her friends, and what begins as a single night of reckless adventure turns into a secret double life—and a seemingly impossible romance that forces Paolo to reckon with who he is, where he belongs, and the importance of being true to himself.

My first impression of the story was that it was a little slow. I liked the beginning where we saw Paolo diving to find junk he can sell at the Vintage Market. The drawings show him entering waterlogged highrises that were buried after sea levels rose. Paolo looks for treasures people left in their homes. He always comes back with cool memorabilia that he and his parents can sell. The drawings from the Flats where Paolo lived reminded me of Thailand and Vietnam. It seemed like a nice place to live but, seriously, who wants to be poor? Only refugees from the climate crisis live in the Flats.

The story then moves to the Uplands where the rich reside. Paolo began taking a train to this area to see what it was really like. There were too many pages devoted to his visits. Eventually Paolo interacts with kids his age who all happen to be artists. The story picked up here but, again, there were too many pages with these interactions before Paolo finally meets Jules. They begin a relationship. Parents, there are only drawings of them kissing, nothing else. 

My favorite character was Kappa. He is Paolo’s best friend. I liked Paolo’s parents too. Unfortunately, Paolo was my third favorite character. When the main character is not likable, the story crumbles. The characters from the Uplands were extremely wealthy, spoiled and jaded teens. I did not like any of them and don't know why Paolo wanted to be like them. It’s interesting that these wealthy elite of the Uplands continued the behaviors of extraction and overconsumption that resulted in the sea levels rising.

Salvage is a visual masterpiece. The story is rendered in vibrant watercolor illustrations that the author painted. She used different colors for each neighborhood. The Flats are colored with a cool toned teal, red and orange palette. In contrast, the Uplands are presented in bright neon colors. The author did an amazing job with her illustrations.

Salvage is the classic social divide love story. It is a pleasant read but it should have been 100 pages shorter than its 246 pages. 3 out of 5 stars.

Silent Witness

Silent Witness is the third book in the Amish Book Club Mystery series. This cozy mystery was published this past Spring on May 26, 2026 and features Rosie Weaver as the amateur sleuth. Rosie is just one of several strong women in the series. She will solve crimes while remaining faithful to her church, which doesn't always like her poking her nose into other people's affairs.

The publisher's summary: 

Rosie Weaver has always relied on logic, discipline, and a strong cup of peppermint tea. But when her neighbor’s barn burns down, and a body is discovered inside, something about the scene feels wrong. The fire is ruled an accident, but the victim had more enemies than friends, and Rosie knows someone is hiding the truth.

The only witness? A kindhearted but non-verbal man whom the entire town has overlooked. And Rosie refuses to let his silence bury what he saw.

Pushed by instinct and the latest book club mystery, Rosie and her book club friends start asking questions no one else will. As resistance builds from her neighbors, outsiders, and even the sheriff, Rose realizes this fire may not be the last.

Can Rosie stop what’s smoldering beneath the silence before it ignites something far worse?

There is much to love about clean Amish mysteries. A writer does not need to use profanity or graphic violence to create a compelling story. Tracy Fredrychowski is one such author. Her use of a mystery book club among Amish women is a fun hook for her series. Amish traditionally don't join book clubs or read "Englischer" novels. Another aspect of this series that I like is the large number of strong female characters. Still, the flavor of an Amish story remains.

While Rosie is the main character, she relies on the other members of her book club to come up with evidence that the group then discusses at their meetings. In this installment of the series the ladies are reading Ashes of Magnolia Manor. In Ashes the detective  picked up on small details such as an old handkerchief and a hidden recipe to solve the crime. Rosie, Lovina and Irma decide to look for similar small details. As usual, the ladies solve the crime, not the sheriff.

 

The story opened with a fire that destroyed the Hostetler barn. There had been fires on the Mullet and Gingerich properties. The setting in Sweet Briar is important. More specifically the farms of the Mullet, Hostetler and Gingerich families are connected and well described. It's easy to see how someone can traverse each property. The past of these three, once close families brings us to the crux of the mystery.

I loved this story and highly recommend it to cozy mystery readers and fans of Amish fiction. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Heiress of Northanger Abbey

I have read and loved every novel Nancy Bilyeau has written. She is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. In The Heiress of Northanger Abbey Bilyeau has written something a little different. She has written a sequel to Jane Austen’s classic novel Northanger Abbey. The book was published on September 1, 2026.

The publisher's blurb:

Gloucestershire, 1820: Twenty-two years after the close of Northanger Abbey, Catherine Tilney seems to be living a happily ever after. But her busy life as a clergyman’s wife is shattered by a letter that resurrects her darkest fears. Her daughter Phoebe has fallen under the influence of the unscrupulous Thorpe family—the very figures who once nearly destroyed Catherine’s happiness.

Determined to protect her child from dangerous fortune hunters, Catherine follows Phoebe to an isolated manor on Dartmoor. There, she finds a landscape of reckless passions, family secrets, and a dangerously charming aristocratic neighbor. It all feels eerily like the plot of the latest Gothic sensation, The Vampyre — but is Catherine once again letting her imagination run wild?

In this psychologically charged sequel to Jane Austen’s classic, award-winning historical novelist Nancy Bilyeau transforms Catherine’s youthful adventures into a mystery with the highest of stakes. The Heiress of Northanger Abbey is a story of mothers and daughters, deception and desire—and of a woman who must learn to trust her power of perception before it’s too late.

 

I LOVED this novel!  It is an excellent sequel to Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. When the book ends, Catherine Morland has just escaped from the clutches of Isabella Thorpe, a former close friend. Catherine is now Catherine Tilney, having married clergyman Henry Tilney. Henry's family owns Northanger Abbey and Henry's family is entitled to live there. However, Henry decides to reside in Woodston where his parish is located. His brother and sister in law have no children and want his daughter Phoebe to inherit the Abbey.

In this sequel Catherine's seventeen year old daughter Phoebe is the subject of a plot by John and Isabella Thorpe. They hope to marry Phoebe off to Lord Pomeroy who is having an affair with Isabella. If the marriage goes forth, Pomeroy will own Northanger Abbey and put Phoebe away. He will then install Isabella as the lady of the Abbey. Catherine believes that Isabella is up to no good and does not allow Phoebe to visit Isabella's daughter Charlotte without Catherine being present. It was interesting that Phoebe and Charlotte like to discuss gothic novels just as Isabella and Catherine used to. I enjoyed their dialogue concerning their favorite books.

The suspenseful gothic atmosphere helped me to continue reading the novel until I finished it in one sitting. It is mostly a fast paced story. The tension in the story was created by having a character who is a beautiful heiress along with several characters who are mysterious villains and who might try to trick her into marrying them. The unexplained screams that Catherine heard late at night also contributed to the atmosphere as did the gloomy weather.

Catherine is the main character. She is likable and intuitive in nature. However, she questions whether her imagination has gone wild with her suspicions about Isabella. Everyone in her orbit is telling her this but Catherine follows her gut instinct and continues to investigate her. She is positive that there are secrets held by Isabella that Isabella will use to hurt Catherine’s family. The reader doesn't know either whether Catherine is right to have these suspicions.

So, was Phoebe really in danger of being manipulated into marriage? Was someone attempting to marry her because of the fortune she will inherit? Was Catherine allowing her imagination to run amok. Who knows! Read the book to find out. 

As I said above, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and am rating it 5 out of 5 stars. 

Ransom

Ransom is the 26th installment of Dan Silva's Gabriel Allon spy series. I have read every book in the series and always eagerly await the arrival of a new book. July 14, 2026 was the date! As with all spy thrillers there is a theme of greed and corruption in Ransom. However, this story is about the kidnapping of a billionaire's wife.

The publisher's summary:

Alice Winter, one of Britain’s most dazzling socialites, seemingly has the perfect life—a lavish home in posh Knightsbridge, a grand estate in Devon, millions of followers on social media who eagerly await her next post. But when she disappears without a trace while on holiday with three old friends from Cambridge, her desperate husband, the real estate baron Edward Knight, turns to none other than Gabriel Allon to find her.

He soon discovers that Alice Winter is not the woman she appears to be, that she has a reckless side, that she has secrets. But Edward Knight has a secret too, a secret so dangerous that Gabriel will have no choice but to return to the life he thought he had left behind. An old enemy lurks there, waiting for him to make one misstep, waiting for the perfect moment to exact vengeance.

From its irresistible opening chapters to its heart-pounding climax and shocking final twist, Ransom is a riveting, page-turning tour de force that proves yet again why Daniel Silva is the reigning master of international intrigue and suspense.

 

The title of the story gives us the plot line. The wife of a British billionaire is kidnapped while she is vacationing with three friends from her college days in Cambridge. The ladies are on the Spanish island of Ibiza. One of them, Phoebe, has a huge argument with Alice and leaves the island the next morning. Alice disappeared at 2 a.m. that morning but the kidnappers didn't contact her husband until six days later demanding a one billion euro ransom. Gabriel is hd by Alice's husband Edward Knight to find her. Gabriel solicits the help of a former associate Sarah Bancroft, an ex-CIA operative-turned-art , and international thief Ingrid Johansson. Both ladies appeared in earlier books of the series. The first half of the book dealt exclusively with the negotiation of the ransom and its subsequent payment. Then the backround on the kidnapping was turned upside down. 

International intrigue abounds in this novel. Gabriel learns that Russian intelligence officers and oligarchs are involved with Edward Knight. He has to sift through all of the clues concerning their possible involvement with the kidnapping. However, instead of the usual nonstop gun fighting between Gabriel and his adversaries the reader sees a slow build up of suspense as Gabriel deciphers who is involved and who isn't.

While Ransom isn't the typical Gabriel Allon novel I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The author created a magnificent plot with clever twists. It is superb.

4 out of of sars.

Callisto

Callisto is a sci-fi graphic novel about Jupiter's second largest moon Callisto. It is home to a space colony that is one of humanity's industrial and mining settlements. It is also hotspot of commerce, culture, and religion. 

Detective Becca Ramos is assigned to investigate the disappearances of several people on Callisto. She will discover a hidden cult who uses the symbol of a cross in a circle. They are called pilgrims but no one knows why. The group is either a religious group from earth or they could possibly refer to the people who came to America. As Becca investigates the disappearances she sees a growing body count and many of the deceased are near the cross symbol. Field Surveyor Santoro is the suspected perp and Becca is searching for him. 

I particularly enjoyed the mechanical cats on this moon. They look just like the cats on earth but these cats are rechargeable. The Callisto setting was similar to earth. There were highrise condos, a city hall and a jail. However, the buildings look like they were created from shipping containers. There was alot of metal on this moon. Colorist Lee Loughridge colored the drawings in muted tones of green, blue, burgundy, teal and brown. The color pallette helped create an otherworldly, dystopian atmosphere which I would expect to find on another planet or moon. Parents, there is no foul language in the story but there is nudity and sexy scenes.

The story moved quickly making the book a fast read. There is one issue that I have though. SPOILER ALERT. I didn't understand the ending. Becca wakes up in a hospital after being unconscious for three days. She appears to be very pregnant and a doctor states she is ready to deliver the child. On the next page we see that all the doctors are dead, having been gruesomely murdered. Huh?

Please note that I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on October 6, 2026. 

3 out of 5 stars.

Someday Perfect

Someday Perfect is a graphic novel about several teens who are sent by their families to a summer camp for Christians for two weeks. The main character is Meg whose father is a pastor. A few of the other characters include Danny, who Meg has a crush on, Kayla, Nicole, Tommy, Sister Elena, Sister Greta, and Hannah. Upon arrival at the Adirondacks Bible Camp the teens are separated by gender with the girls sent to the Waitress Quarters to live.

All of the girls must work as waitresses for all of the camp attendees. The boys are assigned to wash dishes. The girls were given long skirts and ugly aprons that they were required to wear every day, all day. The boys had no clothing restrictions and they wore their normal clothes. The women who supervised the girls chided them for wearing earrings and talking about boys. 

I was surprised that the kids were required to work at the camp. Is this normal? They were working hard so why is this a Bible camp? There were meetings every morning and evening where an adult would preach but there wasn't much time for recreation. The adults were hard on the girls. If a boy was interested in a girl, she was warned about enticing the boy. Also, since the girls had to serve the boys they were not allowed to eat until the boys were finished. Frequently, there wasn't enough food left over for the girls. The camp counselors would tell them that their figures would suffer if they ate. In addition, the girls were told to stay at least six inches apart from the boys. I felt terrible for them. In my opinion this was abusive treatment toward the girls. 

While all of this was ongoing, Meg becomes attracted to Danny. Along with her attraction came questions. Meg wonders how she can fulfill her role as a Christian when her heart and faith both question whether the attraction is appropriate. I was shocked that Meg felt a teen romance was not appropriate. After all, every teenager since the beginning of time experiences such an attraction. It's normal. Meg also had the pressure of needing to be seen as a perfect pastor’s kid.

The author did a great job detailing life at a summer Bible camp. I think that the Adirondacks Bible Camp is something that the author experienced herself because in her Acknowledgments she wrote that she hoped her parents were not mad at her for writing the book.  It was eye-opening to me as I have never attended a summer camp. Despite my alarm at how the girls were treated, the novel is light reading. The drawings were colored in bright colors. A few of the pages were illustrated in typical comic strip panels but the author primarily deviated from using panels.

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

The Young Will Remember

The Young Will Remember is about Chinese American journalist Ellie Chang. Chang is on board a military plane to cover a battle in the North during the Korean War. Unfortunately, her plane crashes in enemy country. Chang later is claimed by a Korean woman as being her long lost daughter. This poignant story was published on May 5, 2026. With 454 pages, it qualifies as a selection for the Big Book Summer Challenge.

The publisher's summary:

1950. It’s the coldest winter in decades, and twenty-eight-year-old Chinese American journalist Ellie Chang is on a military flight to cover a battle in the mountains of North Korea when her plane is shot down.

As she emerges from the fallen aircraft onto an icy field surrounded by the enemy, Ellie is sure it’s the end, certain she’ll never make it home to her parents...until a woman pushes her way through the crowd and claims Ellie as the lost daughter that she’s been searching for since the last war ended. Never mind that Ellie doesn’t speak a word of Korean.

Ellie is taken in by her rescuer—a woman who calls herself “Emma”—and the Paks, a pastor’s family. She knows she can’t stay and yet there’s no way she’ll survive on her own.

As the war intensifies, the sky alighting with bombs overhead, Ellie convinces Emma and the Paks to travel south towards an elusive promise of safety, and where Ellie insists they are more likely to find Emma’s real daughter, stuck on the other side of the frontlines. 

Emma's decision to claim Ellie, and Ellie’s choice to take her hand will connect their lives forever.

I LOVED this novel and could not put it down. I learned alot about the Korean war that I didn't know, even though I read about it in school. The Korean War took place between 1950 and 1953. It's known in the U.S. as the Forgotten War as it occurred between the more well known wars WWII and Vietnam. 

The story concerns the women left behind by their husbands and sons who were away from home to fight. We read about their lives in detail through the Pak family and their neighbors. In addition to Emma and Ellie, Pastor Pak's wife Imo and son Jai-Min completed the family. Neighbor Granny Cho plays a big part in the story also. These ladies endured the terror of the American bombs along with the resulting decimation of their land. Their state of mind wobbled between futile thinking and hope. The fact that they could occasionally have hope speaks to the human element. 

War stories tend to bore me but The Young Will Remember is not about the soldiers. Instead, it's about the women left behind. We learn how they were able to handle frequent moves to avoid the enemy and their bombs. With little food available the ladies hid their rations from neighbors.There was no sharing of food as each family just tried to survive. The biting cold of winter weather contributed to the loss of life. Not everyone was able to find shelter as the Pak family did.

This war story shows some gory details of death but it is slight. Whether or not a character viewed the carnage, the survival instinct quickly set in and the women moved on. I found their resolve to be amazing. With Ellie’s career as a journalist the reader learns about the war from the perspectives of the Koreans, Japanese and Americans. Ellie’s discussions over these perspectives gives the reader a better history of the war.

The Young Will Remember is a magnificent, awe-inspiring book that everyone should read. I am rating it 5  out of 5 stars. 

Flash Point

I received a free copy of this spy thriller from Librarything's Early Reviewer's Club and I am so glad that I did. It's suspenseful and feels a little like sci-fi alongside a spy thriller. There is much to like about this story. It was recently published on June 16, 2026 and with 404 pages, the book qualifies for the Big Book Summer Challenge.

The publisher's summary:

The experiment succeeded. That was the problem. Former Tier 1 operator Grayson Maddox thought he'd left the battlefield behind. Now he's leading a classified physics project at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Then the sabotage begins. A mysterious outage cripples his lab. An armed intruder targets his assistant. A bomb detonates outside a briefing he just left. Someone knows exactly what Maddox's team has discovered—and they're moving with lethal precision to stop it.

On the run, he turns to the only people he trusts: his former Unit teammates.

But even CIA safe houses aren't safe. Somewhere, there's a leak, and two rival factions are closing in. One wants the discovery. The other wants it buried forever—and Maddox along with it. To survive, Maddox must become the operator he thought he'd left behind. Because if RIFT falls into the wrong hands...

the next battlefield won't be a country. It will be reality itself.

This futuristic story begins on April 7, 2046. The main character, Grayson Maddox, wears a watch that self heals and the wristband has a camera, opens maps, has a holographic projector and is a virtual medic that tells him how to treat his injuries. Grayson refers to a truck built in 2046 as being old. Also, the Indo-Pacific War that took place in the early 2040s is referenced. In addition, AI controls everything from air vehicles to emergency responses. Despite these futuristic references, DARPA is still in business. Some of the science is beyond my ability to understand but this did not prevent me from understanding the plot. I will say one more thing about science. A quote from Jacques Cousteau is given before the first page of the story. I love it. Cousteau states that the root of all evil is science. Not money. With this idea now in my head I began reading.

There was plenty of action and adventure in the story. Grayson is constantly on the move. His groundbreaking physics research has been attacked by an unknown entity, forcing him and his assistant Mari to go into hiding. The story melds physics with espionage and military components. It is fast paced and extremely suspenseful. The NSA, CIA, Army and private firms all want to know more about Grayson's discovery and are competing to obtain it. The author did a great job combining all these elements into a story. I would rate his ability to compose a decent plot as well as that of Brad Thor or Dan Silva. However, the characters are pulling the story down. They are one dimensional. The reader does not know much about them other than what jobs they hold. It would be better to know something about the characters private lives as well as how they grow in each installment of this series. In addition, there are characters whose names are a number. I found it hard to follow One, Two, Three and Four. 

All in all, Flash Point was a captivating read. With time, this author is going to break out as one of the best spy thriller writers of our time. 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Corpse de Ballet

I love attending the ballet so when I saw this book on Kindle I had to get a copy. It is a psychological thriller in a graphic novel format. Corpse de Ballet was published about a month ago in July 7, 2026 and it is magnificent. The book is author Megan Kearney's first solo graphic novel.  

The publisher's summary: 

Arriving at Saint Anselmus in the middle of the year, Rosamund Hammond is ready to practice hard and prove she deserves to be there. But something at this boarding school doesn’t feel right. It turns out that just before Rosamund enrolled, a student disappeared without telling anyone. Was it really a leave of absence―or something more sinister? Together with her new roommate, Rosamund spirals deeper and deeper into an obsession with the truth. As the school prepares for its showcase performance of Coppélia, can she commit to her hard-earned ballet dreams while solving the mystery that’s haunting her―or will she lose herself in the process?

As I stated above this graphic novel is a psychological thriller. However, it is a light psychological thriller. There are no dramatic chapter endings but rather we see the main character Rosamund spiraling downwards throughout the story. Her roommate Eugenie tells her a tale about Eugenie's former roommate Giovanna dying at the school which is not true but Rosamund doesn't know this fact. Rosamund is led to investigate Giovanna's murder.

Each chapter begins with a ballet pose, first position, second position, etc. . . I thought this was a nice touch by the author who, incidentally, is not a dancer. All of the drawings are colored in blue and white, a color scheme I like. It reminded me of Do Admit, a biography of the Mitford sisters. The characters are multidimensional. All of them have secrets in their past they try to cover up. None of these secrets are all that important but to a teenager desiring to be a star ballerina, they are extremely important. The dancers fear anything negative in their past will prevent them from having good careers. 

Our heroine Rosamund began studying at the school just one semester from high school graduation. She feels inferior for several reasons. One, the other students whisper about her being a late scholarship award winner. In Rosamund's mind, she agrees with them. She also has to work harder in order to catch up with the level of the other students. While Rosamund is talented, she needs plenty of instruction. Her roommate, Eugenie, is a bitch who isolates Rosamund by encouraging her to stay away from the other students because, well, they are bitches. Eugenie is a fantastic villain. She has no problems with lying all day and every day. She is Rosamund's best friend until the time comes for the senior showcase performance where future careers are on the line.

Throughout the story we read about the Coppélia ballet story on and off. I thought this was a nice hook for the story. It was an engaging story that I thoroughly enjoyed. 5 out of 5 stars.

My Tokyo Summer

My Tokyo Summer is a sweet story that celebrates creativity, culture and friendship. Written by Abby Denson, the book is a graphic memoir of her trip to Tokyo in 1997 to meet her pen pal Yuuko. Both love comics and they decide to write and illustrate a comic of their own. The book was published last month on July 7, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

Abby lives in the United States and loves comics, zines, and punk music. Yuuko lives in Japan and loves manga, American movies, and creating art. When Yuuko visits New York City and sees a comic that Abby made, she writes a letter to Abby and they become pen pals. Later, Abby takes the opportunity to enroll in a summer university program in Japan, and the two girls get the chance to meet in person. What follows are charming and funny adventures in Tokyo as Abby and Yuuko explore the city together. Things get even more exciting when they decide to combine their talents and make a comic to sell at Comiket, one of the largest comics conventions in the world. This will be an extraordinary summer of life-changing friendship!

I loved this story. It was written for kids aged 12 and up so there are no sexy scenes, violence or foul language. Abby’s culture shock mirrored my own during a recent trip to Japan. I can honestly say that her experiences are authentic. A few examples of Abby’s cultural experience include a trip to Senkaido, the biggest stationery shop in Tokyo. The illustrations of the shop had me groaning with jealousy. She also learns how to order in a restaurant, order food from vending machines and from street vendors. Abby visits a few shrines and remarks on the excessive number of steps involved and is able to buy train tickets and board trains thanks to a Japanese language class she took back home in New York City. 

Abby and Yuuko collaborated together on a comic. The two worked well together and I'm going to attribute that to their youth. It seemed easy enough to have it copied in Tokyo. Yuuko's part included cut and pasting images she drew from gray sheets. I don't believe that this type of printing is available in the U S. I had never heard of gray sheets before. Some have the backgrounds already drawn so that the creator can fill in the characters and lettering. Others allow the artist to add gray highlights to their page.

Abby’s visit was 100% positive. This surprised me. She never got lost orhad money issues, although she had help from Yuuko on days they were together. Not much was told about the drawing class that Abby took but I guess it didn't fit in with the plot. I was also surprised by Abby’s attire. She dressed in overalls and had her hair pulled back in pigtails. This didn't seem plausible for a college student.

The story was inspired by Abby’s real life experiences in Tokyo and with Yuuko. Both characters are actual people who have kept up their friendship over the years. The language barrier and cultural differences did not prevent them from becoming lifelong friend. The drawings were done by Utomaru whom Abby has collaborated with before. They were colored with bright colors that would appeal to kids. 

I cannot recommend this memoir more highly. It's a fun and fast read. 5 out of 5 stars.

24 Hours to Forget

24 Hours to Forget is Filipe Silva's third novel. It has an intriguing plot premise where a woman wakes up every day with no memory of the day before. One day she finds a note in her own handwriting that states “DON'T TRUST HIM." She realizes that she is living with someone who may be manipulating her. 24 Hours to Forget is an ebook with 104 pages. It was published on April 16, 2026. 

The story opened with our main character waking up and smelling coffee made by her husband Daniel. Our main character is a lady with severe amnesia. She is not given a name by the author. Odd. She knows not to trust Daniel and isn't sure that he is really her husband. She has been reading her notebooks of memories but later realizes that he is changing them. This tells me she remembered prior days and didn't lose her memory every 24 Hours.

The premise for the book is good. It was not executed well. Each chapter tells us something new about her but there was no action in the story. It would have been nice to read that someone was on her side and fighting for her, that there was a sinister reason for her amnesia for a character to reveal. There are only two characters, not enough to build a story. It's just our lady of amnesia and her generic, no personality husband Daniel. Daniel never expresses any emotion. He is flat.

Please note that I received a free copy of this book from Librarything's Early Reviewer's Club in exchange for an honest review. 

No rating.

Matcha on Monday

Matcha on Monday is a collection of Japanese short stories. It was published in English on July 7, 2026. These snippets of Japanese life are not like American short stories where there is a mystery to solve. There is no whodunnit, howdunnit, or whydunnit in them. Rather, the process the characters go through to becoming more whole is the point. These stories are interconnected and one character will reappear in another. There is one story for each month of the year. Matcha on Monday is the second book in the Marble Café series.

The publisher summarizes the book: 

Across a bridge in a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo, a charming little matcha café – open only on Mondays – offers a beacon of light and healing to all who pass through its doors. All throughout the week, customers flock to the Marble Café that’s tucked away behind the trees – except when it’s closed on Mondays, when the Matcha Café opens in its place, offering its clientele a warm cup of matcha and restoration to start the busy week ahead. On this one day of the week, people from all walks of life frequent this cozy haven and experience the joys of human connection. Among them include: a singer who has just broken up with his lover, an unsociable young owner of a tea wholesaler, a husband who has made his wife angry, a designer and owner of a lingerie shop and a Kamishibai artist who doesn't get along with his grandmother. This heart-warming story takes place in Tokyo and Kyoto over twelve months, bringing together a community of untold unfolding lives – all starting with a cup of matcha.

The first story is Matcha on Monday where the Marble Café hosts a one time matcha event on the day they are normally closed. As a matcha lover, it is my favorite. A woman who is having a bad day is a regular customer. However, she ends up at the cafe by mistake on a Monday and is asked whether she wants her tea thin or thick. Not knowing what that means she rationalizes that thicker is better so she orders it. It was awful. She is then informed that it would go down better if she had a bite if the accompaning sweet. It tasted much better. Her bad day continues but she meets a man who will later become her husband.

Another favorite is Sparrows in Early Spring. The main character is a seamstress who opens a lingerie shop upon finishing fashion school. I thought it was unique for her to select lingerie as the focus for her shop, Peep Bird. As a seamstress myself, I learned what fabrics and thread worked best for constructing lingerie. I loved reading about her stitching the under garments. The guitarist/customer will appear in another story where she recounts shopping here.

I enjoyed the easygoing, cozy atmosphere of the stories. While the book is light reading, each story is character-driven and something profound happens to their way of thinking about themselves. They are each approximately 8 pages long. I also think the book cover is magnificent. It's the reason I picked up the book in my local bookshop. Having read similar Japanese books I knew it would be a relaxing read, which it was.

5 out of 5 stars.

Tempered For Murder

Tempered for Murder is a cozy culinary mystery. It is the first book in the new Zuvaara Chocolate Murder Mystery series. Tempered for Murder is the debut novel by Puja Satiani. It features former lawyer Salena Sharma as the amateur sleuth who traded her career as an attorney to operate a chocolate business called Zivaara. Unfortunately, she found herself investigating a murder that is connected to her new life. This delightful novel was recently published on March 13, 2026. 

The story blends the world of artisanal chocolate with a murder mystery. We read about Salena navigating her professional ambition alongside her grief over a former legal colleague who was murdered. Dominic Gray was Salena's mentor at the law firm she worked at, Sutcliffe and Chase. He was shot inside his house. Although she left the firm a year ago, Salena maintained close ties with her former colleagues. Through them Salena gathers information about Dominic that could help her discover the whodunnit and the whydunnit. Salena's best friend Tara Jacobs offers advice along the way on areas where Salena might focus her investigation. They are a practical sleuthing duo.

Additional characters include Tara's husband Paul and their kids Natalie and Sydney. Dominic's wife Amy, his neighbors Marty and Suzanne, culinary colleagues Vic and Maggie, and his nosy neighbor Edith round out the secondary characters. The business name Zivaara means "best life" in ancient South Asian languages. Salena has based her entrepreneurship on her beloved grandfather who always encouraged her to study and learn how to think. He did not want her to rely on a man or money but to focus on her mind and hands.

The setting is a Washington DC suburb called Fairview, more specifically the setting is high-powered Washington DC. I am familiar with this town which made my enjoyment of the story that much better. The pace is fast and I was hooked into the story from the first page. The first sentence grabbed my attention: "The flecks of salt on the dark chocolate caramels shimmered under the lights, each caramel looking flawless and self-assured." Other favorite sentences include this one on page 98: "She poured the chocolate into a mold with twelve square cavities, tapped the mold to help the chocolate settle, sprinkled caramelized cacao nibs over each cavity, and tapped it again." Page 100 gives us "Next on Salena’s list was milk chocolate ganache. She heated the cream and other ingredients, then poured the warm mixture over the milk chocolate pistoles. As she stirred, the ganache gradually turned smooth and shiny." My taste buds are longing for chocolate but back to the story, each chapter ended  with suspense that kept me reading. In fact, I finished reading this book in one sitting.

This first book of the series gives us well rounded characters and an interesting setting that offer a plethora of possible future stories for the series. The author is a former attorney who became a chocolatier. The premise for the series is based upon her life experiences. Please note that I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.

5 out of 5 stars.

The Doctor in the Corner Clinic

The Doctor in the Corner Clinic: The Room Was Never the Mystery is the second book in the author's Corner Room mystery series. I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. I can honestly say though that this is a wonderful locked room mystery. The book was published on April 22, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

Dr. Ashok Kulkarni is found dead inside his locked clinic. Gun in hand. Door bolted from the inside. An open-and-shut suicide, the police say. Inspector Praveen Kumar is not convinced.

Ashok was a celebrated cardiologist, a Padma Shri recipient, and one of Bangalore’s most trusted doctors. But as Praveen retraces the final months of his life, he uncovers a burned letter, a growing fear, and a secret powerful enough to destroy more than one life.

What begins as a locked-room death soon turns into something far more dangerous: a search through buried relationships, quiet betrayals, and truths hidden behind respectability. As the case deepens, Praveen finds himself drawn into a mystery where every answer raises a darker question, and where the cost of the truth may reach far beyond the dead. Because the room was never the only thing that was locked.

The story opened with Dr. Ashok Kulkarni receiving a visitor while he worked late at night in his office. The visitor climbed the outside wall leading to Kulkarni's office on the third floor. He then made a demand on behalf of Jaya to which Kulkarni complied but stated this was the last time. The next chapter begins with the discovery of Kulkarni's body the next morning. He had been shot.

Inspector Praveen Kumar is assigned to investigate the death. It was quickly determined to be a suicide but Praveen had a hunch that there was much more to the incident. He continued looking into the death by interviewing friends, family and a few patients of Ashok. Some of the characters did not seem to be telling the truth but Praveen did not know where to turn in the investigation. 

In addition to being an engaging locked room mystery, I would also describe the book as a psychological thriller because the deceased's life seemed to hold the keys to the suicide. Unfortunately, no one who knew him had any idea of what had upset Ashok enough for him to want to die. Ashok had a perfect life. He had a wonderful career as a cardiologist, an intelligent wife and two happy kids. Why would he want to die?

The story had a swift pace with several twists. As Praveen discovered secrets about relationships in Ashok's life he thought that each of these relationships held the key. However, they all were dead ends and Praveen had to start over from scratch several times. The plot kept me guessing through all of the layers of family and professional secrets in the Kulkarni family. 

I enjoyed reading this novel and am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

Melody of Love

Melody of Love is an Amish fiction novel written by Wanda Brunstetter. It takes place in Indiana Amish country, in Goshen near Shipshewana. Shipshewana has a fantastic fabric shop within Yoder's Country Store. It boasts 10,000 bolts of fabric and I love spending money there whenever I can get there. Melody of Love was published on June 15, 2026.

In this novel Amelia Miller is dealing with her nine year old autistic son Micah. She is a widow and is raising him on her own. Amelia finds out about a public library class that helps both autistic children and their parents cope with the disease. She signs both of them up. Micah improves under the program so Amelia feels safe to travel to Ohio for a family wedding. While in Ohio she meets widower Christian Yoder and a spark between them is lit. When Christian suddenly has the opportunity to move to Indiana near Amelia, what started as a spark grows to a flame. However, there are complications. Micah doesn’t like Christian and he often acts out in tantrums. Amelia’s love for her son is her priority and she doesn't know what to do about her relationship with Christian.

Wanda Brunstetter is known for addressing modern problems in her Amish fiction stories. This book may be the first of hers that deals with a disability; at least the first that I can remember. I learn more from Brunstetter about modern issues than from any other source and it's always gently couched inside a cozy story.

In Melody of Love we read about three characters primarily. Amelia is a quiet and sweet widow who has been dealt several adversities in life that she doesn't deserve. In the past year both of her parents passed away in a buggy accident. She also lost her husband and the financial support he provided. Her only child is autistic. Despite all of these tragedies Amelia has not become embittered. She is still the sweet woman that she always has been. Son Micah is nine years old. While he has plenty of meltdowns, Micah loves certain chores. He has become attached to the chickens and one in particular that he named Matilda. Micah also enjoys baking with his mother. It seems to me that Micah and Amelia share a sweet temperament, although you sometimes have to look for it in Micah due to his disability. Christian Yoder also seems to have this same temperament. He is kind toward Micah even though he doesn't receive it back so he is also long-suffering. Like Amelia, Christian doesn't express his thoughts too much for fear of hurting others. The siblings of both Amelia and Christian play secondary parts in the story.

Melody of Love was a lovely, pun intended, read. It’s always a plus to read about characters who behave as they should, giving the reader a respite from the world. 5 out of 5 stars.

Tell Me Something True

Tell Me Something True is an atmospheric mystery. The plot includes a coming-of-age and a love story all wrapped into one. It takes place in the small Australian town of Yulara where all the characters reside. It will be published on January 5, 2027. I was lucky to receive a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

The publisher's summary: 

 

I look along the road and notice how many people are standing outside their houses or watching from doorways and windows. Staring. Studying.

“Do you think this town will ever forgive me?” I ask.

“Not in a million years.”

Small towns are quick to anger and slow to forgive, but Arlo Hackett doesn't expect mercy when he emerges from a twelve-year prison sentence and makes his way back to Yulara, a waypoint on Australia's Great Southern Road. The last time Arlo was home in 1988, his brother Luke was charged with a terrible crime, and Arlo was found guilty by association.

His return to Yulara is like cracking open a time capsule full of hatred and violence, along with memories of the people he loved—the ones he couldn't save.

The small town wants Arlo gone, or worse, but every insult and humiliation pushes him to confront what really happened all those years ago. The truth will shock you, surprise you, and break your heart.

Tell Me Something True is told in a dual timeline, from Arlo's childhood and young adulthood to his release from prison when he was thirtysomething. Arlo spent twelve years in prison for covering up the murder of Saxon Winacott. Arlo's brother Luke confessed to killing her but never received a trial. He was beaten by the police at the police station and subsequently died. Saxon was the stepdaughter of the wealthiest man in Yulara, Frank Winacott. Frank frequently beat Saxon up so she moved out of the house at seventeen and was invited to live with Arlo's family by his mother.

Saxon had an engaging personality. She was high energy and loved life. Of course, she was beautiful. Saxon also played the piano well. She hoped to receive a full scholarship to a music conservatory and played good enough to actually get it. Saxon also had a one track mind. She loved talking about sex. Luke had a huge crush on her but Saxon was more interested in Arlo. Arlo told her she was too young for him though. However, the two of them were frequently together and Saxon always asked "tell me something true" which required revealing a secret.

Most of the characters are likable, especially the female characters. Saxon had a wild side but she was laser focused on obtaining a career in music. Her mother was sympathetic but her stepfather Frank Winacott was abusive and was primarily interested in making money, even at any cost. I liked all of Arlo's family. Arlo, himself, was a kind person as was his brother Luke and his mother. The Hackett family was poor but willing to give to others, which is how Saxon came to live with them. The men who worked at the police station were nasty people. All of them were villains. All were willing to stop following the law in order to protect the rich men in Yulara.

Tell Me Something True is a poignant, slow-burning mystery. It's an enjoyable read and I highly recommend it. 4 out of 5 stars.

A Founding Mother

Just in time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes this sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams. She was the wife of one president, John Adams, and mother to another, John Quincy Adams. Her willpower and wisdom helped shape our fledgling republic. The book has been meticulously researched, drawing on the extensive letters that Abigail wrote throughout her life. This 464 page novel was published on May 5, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.

When peace is secured, Abigail steps onto the world stage—exchanging ideas with Thomas Jefferson in the French countryside, navigating court life as the wife of the Minister to Great Britain, and presiding over the parlor politics of the early American republic in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Even after her husband’s presidential administration, she continues battling political foes and working behind the scenes to advance her family, secure independence for the women in her life, and ensure a better life for the next generation of Americans.

From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time—one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today.

The story opened with Abigail and John discussing the British army successes of 1814 against the states. The British had just burned down Washington DC and destroyed the White House and Capitol buildings. Both of them feared that the republic might be lost despite a lifetime of efforts from both of them. The story then turns back in history to 1770 where the story of the Adams's marriage was also the story of the founding of the nation. 

I am impressed with the amount of historical information presented. The authors did an incredible amount of research. I enjoyed seeing the founding of our country through the perspectives of women. Women had no say in the political decisions that the men made but women were responsible for making those decisions successful. As the men fought back against the taxes, the ladies learned to make their own clothes, to spin fiber and put food on the table without the use of food staples. If the ladies had not been able to do this, independence would not have been possible. Abigail had a double portion of hardship. She had to deal with the shortages while managing her household but also had to work the fields of the family farm in order to earn money. John Adams was frequently absent due to his law practice as well as with his work for the Continental Congress. Had he been present, he would have worked the farm.

The relationships between the Adamses, Washingtons, and Jeffersons was complicated. I wasn't aware of how intertwined their friendships were. The political differences between them only surfaced after the end of the Revolutionary War. For example, Abigail was intimidated by Martha Washington. Martha was wealthy and exhibited the airs and graces of her position. Abigail on the other hand grew up as a meager parson's daughter and had to learn how to behave around those in upper social circles, especially after her husband became president. Jefferson became a close friend of both Adamses but was closer to Abigail. They shared a love of wisdom and humor but Jefferson accepted Abigail's wish to be treated as an intellectual, unusual for the era. 

A Founding Mother is a fascinating account of the events surrounding the birth of a nation. There is so much to learn from its pages and I highly recommend it. Women will definitely want to read the book. 5 out of 5 stars.