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.

Declaration Illustrated

Declaration/Emancipation Illustrated is a unique, double-sided graphic novel by cartoonist R. Sikoryak. It pairs the unabridged text of the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Gettysburg Address with visuals rendered in the iconic styles of over 100 different classic and contemporary American comic artists.

The publisher's summary:

The severing of colonial ties to Great Britain and the critical turning points in American history that followed have never been more vividly manifested than in the skillful hands of Sikoryak, who doesn't hesitate to dream up Jeffy from Family Circus as Thomas Jefferson and Mr. Magoo as a British loyalist. King George III is deliciously portrayed as pop culture’s most famous villains, such as Thanos, The Joker, Scar from The Lion King, and many more. Sikoryak also skillfully adopts the styles of such comic artists as Will Eisner of The Spirit, Allie Brosh of Solutions and Other Problems, Morrie Turner of Wee Pals, Mark Beyer of Amy and Jordan, and Floyd Gottfredson of Mickey Mouse. The Civil War era pays homage to Black Panther, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith, Steenz’s Heart of the City, Justice League, and many more.

The comic is short; just 134 pages. The Declaration part of the book is on one side of the book. Turn it over and you find the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address. The verbage is exclusively the words of the Declaration, the Proclamation and the Address. At the end of each of these three documents is a chronology of events that brought us the documents and a bibliography. The illustrations use characters ftom comic strips and TV series including The Simpsons, Black Panther and the Powerpuff Girls.

The author stated in an online interview that he had a rule to only use American characters in this book. Also, his reason for putting the Emancipation Proclamation as the second side of this book was because 

"someone, Abraham Lincoln, took what was in the Declaration and said, ‘This is important, this part at the beginning about “All men are created equal,” because he references the Declaration in the Gettysburg Address and in the Emancipation Proclamation. 

“Four score and seven years ago,” that’s referring directly to the Declaration, so you can take these documents and you can think about what they’re saying to you, and you can act on them."

I had no idea that that the Gettysburg Address referred to the Declaration. I always wondered what "four score and seven years ago" referenced. 

I agree with the publisher's blurb that this book is an entertaining trip through American history.  It is a fun, easy to read history of three of the U. S.'s foundational documents and I highly recommend it to readers of all ages.

5 out of 5 stars.

Daughters of the Sun and Moon

Lisa See's newest novel takes place in post Civil War Los Angeles. I have never read nor heard of any book concerning Chinese immigrants at this time and place. It was eye opening to learn about this era. The book was recently published on June 9, 2026.

The publisher's summary: 

In 1870, three Chinese women arrive in the small, dusty, and violent pueblo of Los Angeles. Dove, the bound-footed daughter of an imperial scholar, is entrancing and innocent. These characteristics should bring her great rewards, beginning with her arranged marriage to a much older merchant. Petal, the big-footed daughter of peasants, has grown up hungry and with dirt between her toes. In a moment of desperation, Petal’s father sells her to buy money for rice seed, and she is loaded onto a ship to the Gold Mountain—America—where she is once again sold. Moon is married to a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. She is educated, speaks fluent English, and has been endowed with a face of great beauty, yet her failed footbinding as a child has left her with a limp that lessens her value in the eyes of many.

Each woman has her own desires. Dove wants to love and be loved, Petal desires freedom, and Moon seeks justice. Together they face a larger society that wishes them not one ounce of good will. Anti-Chinese sentiment is strong in Los Angeles, and this eventually leads to the Night of Horrors during which all three women are challenged in ways they could not have imagined. Brought together by hardship and heartbreak, they must use their bravery, endurance, and ability to “eat bitterness” to discover their voices, find freedom, and connect through solace and friendship. Together they are daughters of the sun and moon.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of each of the three friends. We read about the life stories of Moon, Petal and Dove from two different years: 1870 and 1926. In 1870 all three girls met on the ship from Hong Kong to San Francisco. Their families had sold them to men in America who were looking for wives. Moon is the only woman whose promised marriage was successful. Dove's marriage contract married her to an old man. Petal, unfortunately, was sold by her parents unknowingly into prostitution. The story is character-driven and quite emotional. All three girls went through horrors of their own upon arrival in America. I was astonished at how quickly they adapted to being sexually abused by their husbands and other men in both China and America. These were strong women.

The book focuses on the small community of approximately 200 Asian immigrants in Los Angeles, a county of only 5,000 people in 1870. At the time, anti-Asian sentiment was rampant and tensions built up into a night when a mob massacred 18 Chinese men. It was called The Night of Horrors and it actually happened. The book highlights this awful night in detail. We read about Chinese men being hung and shot numerous times with rifles with the mob screaming to kill more. The lengthy description of each murder was difficult for me to handle. I felt like I was there witnessing it myself.

The characters are based upon real women and men who lived in Los Angeles during the early 1870s. A list of the real characters is at the back of the book. Moon is based on Tong Yu who was married to Dr. Tong, and Dove is based on Yut Ho who was the wife of a much older merchant. Petal's character is a composite of two real life ladies. Sing Ye was kidnapped and tortured by one of her husband’s rivals. Sing Yu ran away from her brothel several times. Others include secondary characters that the girls knew. 16 of them were hanged during the Night of Horrors: hotel worker Ah Wing, laundrynan Leong Quai, cigar maker Ah Long, Moon's husband Dr. Gene Tong, Dr. Tong's assistant Chang Wan, Dr. Tong's brother Wong Gim,  liquor maker Ah Cut, cooks Wan Foo, Tong Won, Lo Hey, Ho Hing, Day Kee, Ah Waa, Wing Chee, Ah Won, storekeeper Wong Chin and Petal’s fourteen-year-old brother Ah Loo. Ah Loo had recently arrived in Los Angeles 3 or 4 weeks before his murder. Two additional men were shot to death. You will find all their names in the Wikipedia account of the event.

I am amazed that the author was able to write this fictionalized account, given the restraints of so many known facts about the event. How she wove these real life characters into the story is beyond me. I had never heard of The Night of Horrors before reading this novel. After finishing the book I read several online historical accounts of what happened. The author got all the facts right. This history was eye-opening to say the least. History always asks the question: have we learned from the past or are we destined to repeat it?

Concerning the title of the book, I am a little confused. I do not understand what it means to be a daughter of the sun or a daughter of the moon. Internet research did not find an answer so I sent an email to the author requesting information. A link to an interview with the author about the book can be found here.

5 out of 5 stars.

Choke Point

Choke Point is the 25th novel in Brad Thor's Scot Harvath series, a political thriller where Harvath hunts a rogue American operative assisting China's plan to seize a critical geopolitical "choke point" in Southeast Asia, leading to a high-stakes conflict with global implications. It was published on June 16, 2026.

The publisher's summary:  

A devastating series of bombings tears through Bangkok. Scores of American citizens are dead. The attacks send shock waves around the world.

As global assistance pours into Thailand—including the FBI’s famed Evidence Response Team—the president of the United States quietly prepares a plan B: Scot Harvath, America’s top spy, trained to operate outside the law and probe the dark corners others can’t…or won’t.

But the bomber Harvath is pursuing isn’t a terrorist. He’s something far more dangerous—one of ours.

Meanwhile, in Washington, a former United States Marine is being hunted—and he has no idea why. Desperate for answers, he turns to the one person he still trusts—his ex-fiancée, a rising star in the White House. The problem is, she isn’t sure she can trust him.

As Harvath closes in on the bomber, a devastating truth begins to emerge. China has quietly deployed its most elite intelligence unit to Thailand. Their objective: to ignite chaos, trigger a military coup, and seize control of a narrow but critical piece of land, one that could give Beijing a decisive advantage.

If the plan succeeds, Beijing will secure a key gateway between two oceans, eroding American naval dominance and tipping the balance in any war between the world’s great powers.

China will control the ultimate geopolitical choke point.

The story opened with Kevin Koebler setting off a car bomb and then walking away. Each of the subsequent chapters alternate between Koebler's activities and Harvath's activities. Harvath's involvement began after a significant bomb was set off in Bangkok that resulted in the deaths of over three hundred people.

Harvath and his team of four were called in to the U. S. Embassy in Manila for a briefing on the disaster. The team was tasked with determining the identity of the bomber and then to capture him. The politics of the region were highlighted in the briefing. Thailand and neighboring Cambodia have been in a cold war for twenty years because of border disputes. If evidence of the involvement of the Cambodians was discovered there was a fear that the Thais would begin a war against them. While the blueprint of the bombs pointed toward a Cambodian bomb maker, Chinese men are always seen at the bombed out sites. 

I was pleased to see that Scot Harvath's post spy career made much more sense in this installment of the series than in earlier novels. We read that he was recalled from retirement to help out in a mission in Thailand. Nothing more. I was glad there were no scenes with Harvath's new wife.

It seemed that the whydunnit of the story was based off the current Iran War. It even included a mention of the closing of Hormusz. However, I have been seeing ads for the book for at least five or six months. The timeline of the publication doesn't meet this test though. The mention of Iran and Hormusz was fleeting but the exact same scenario taking place in the Gulf of Thailand is ironic. 

I always enjoy a Thai setting. In this story, it's the politics of the country that are described. There wasn't any depiction of the foods, architecture, or other cultural aspects of Thai society. I learned alot, though, about the politics of the areas surrounding Thailand. 

Choke Point is a fast paced story with fascinating twists. It was an enjoyable read but the first half of the book lacked the suspense seen in the latter half. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

A River Red With Blood

A River Red With Blood is the 23rd Charlie Parker novel by John Connolly. It is a dark and atmospheric story that takes place in small town Maine. In this installment of the series there are two disappearances for Charlie to solve.

The pulisher's summary:

Two intertwined disappearances leave a rural community in shock in the latest gripping Charlie Parker novel from New York Times bestselling author John Connolly.

In a darkly brilliant thriller set in Maine’s rural Kennebec River Valley, the body of a young runaway from a “troubled teens” school has been found in the water, seemingly drowned, while a teenage girl has gone missing, believed dead. Now it is up to one man, private investigator Charlie Parker, to find the connection, and bring two evils—one new and one ancient—to an end…

I had a hard time maintaining interest in the book in the beginning. Each of the chapters on the disappearances gave little information to make me want to read further. I continued though and by the middle of the story each subplot was fascinating and I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen.

The part of the book that I  enjoyed the most was the group of three killers who call what they do "the game."  Originally there were four participants. When one of them violated the rules of the game he was eliminated. This worked out well for the remaining three because they could be the leader of the game sooner. Every third year each of them got to select the victim, the method of murder and actually commit the murder.  Another fascinating part of the book was the action at Spero School. Spero is a place for troubled teens whose parents have given up on. It's more of a prison than a school with ridiculous rules and severe punishments. 

As far as the characters are concerned, I did not feel that Charlie Parker was a  sympathetic character. There was certainly nothing exciting about his character. The characters who were awesome were the three involved in the game. They were the villains but most of the plot involved them. I guess because I know more about these three men that they seemed to be much more interesting. Another interesting aspect of these three characters was their psyche allowing them to be willing to kill. I wondered what had happened to these men that made them the monsters that they were.

My thoughts about the book are mixed. The beginning was slow but the ending was satisfying. I am rating the book 3 out of 5 stars.

The Editor's Daughter

The Editor's Daughter is a historical fiction novel set in 1814 Washington, featuring Ella Rutherford. Ella is a secret editorial writer who must navigate political upheaval, romance, and the British invasion. I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. This 411 page novel was published on May 26, 2026.

The publisher's summary:  

A war. A fire. A bond written in ash and ink. And a voice that refused to be extinguished.

In Washington, 1814, Ella Rutherford grew up amid the noise of the printing press and the uproar of congressional halls as the secret protégé of her father. Skirting society's demands, she authors editorials under a false name while waging a rivalry with cynical war correspondent Grant Dashwood and avoiding every attempt at a match.

When British troops march on the capital in a night of fire and smoke, Ella loses everything. With no inheritance and even fewer options, Ella must wed—but the cost of marriage is more than she can afford. Through ruin, conspiracy, and a love written between the lines, she must choose between the people she loves and who she was meant to be.

I always enjoy historical fiction stories about feminists in earlier eras. Ella Rutherford is one such woman. She is in the fourth season of the marriage market but continues to reject every suitor. All of them wanted to stifle her intellectual curiosity and talents. Ella has no intention of being obedient to a man so she believes she cannot marry. Female obedience is expected on marriage. That said, Ella has an attraction to Grant Dashwood who has liberal ideas concerning women.

Since the backdrop to the story is the War of 1812, Dashwood tries to warn the Rutherford's that the British were soon to be in the new city of Washington where the Rutherfords reside. Ella's father decides to ignore the warning and when the British knock on his door they immediately shoot him dead. Ella flees with Dashwood and later learns that her mother and younger sister have taken refuge with their Montgomery cousins. She is now destitute and must live with them also. The British troops burned the entire city of Washington. If memory serves me correctly, Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Bangled Banner during this siege.

The story is a historical romance. Dashwood and Ella exchange letters while Dashwood is serving as a war correspondent with the American troops. Both are trying to avoid their feelings for each other. In the meantime Ella's mother has foumd another suitor for her. Thomas Gray is wealthy and Ella's family is pressuring her to marry him. Ella is concerned about his weak view of women but knows she must make a match soon.

I don't want to gave any further summary of the plot. It's best to read the book for yourselves to find out what happens to Ella. I loved her character though. She was such a strong woman for the era. Her mother, however, was the stereotypical wealthy wife bent on fitting into society at any cost. I was surprised that Ella's father gave in to her mother regarding her prospective suitors. In the beginning of the novel he always sided with Ella and let her write news stories for his paper. Grant Dashwood was, of course, dashing. 

I enjoyed this book. It gives alot of detail about the War of 1812 and I learned alot. The story was somewhat slow in parts so I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

The Margin of Death

The Margin of Death is a financial crime thriller featuring Detective Sarah Reeves. She has a missing-person case that later becomes a murder investigation and then a much larger investigation into genealogy, wealth and ancient secrets. I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review. The book was published on May 5, 2026.

The story began quickly and I was instantly hooked. Sarah is working on a financial crime investigation into insider trading at Apex Capital. She had received an email complaint from portfolio analyst Marcus Chen. Chen almost immediately disappeared so Sarah made an appointment to see his boss James Harrington. The complaint was related to the Cross Industries merger announcement. Chen claimed to have evidence of options trades placed weeks before the public announcement, using client accounts without authorization.

Cross Industries was owned by U. S. Senator William Cross who was the chair of the Senate Banking Committee and was running for president. Sarah discovered that Cross was using his daughter's shell companies to launder illegal foreign contributions from Russian oligarchs, Saudi nationals and Chinese businessmen. He laundered forty-seven million dollars over two years.

Harrington allowed an IT technician to open up Chen's computer for Sarah to review. The tech informed Sarah that Chen had him set up a deadman's switch on his computer so that if he didn't log in every 48 hours an automated email would be sent out. With Chen's disappearance 2 days ago, the switch was triggered. What Sarah found in a "deleted emails" folder was the beginning of her investigation into the firm. Chen was close to the firm's Head of Compliance Leo Jenkins. They attended college together and were long time friends. However, Leo was found dead that same day. His murder was set up to look like a suicide as was Chen's. I found this start to the plot riveting and I couldn’t put the book down. I read it in one sitting.

As Sarah began organizing the facts of the crime, she found additional factors that changed the essence of the investigation. The financial crime investigation process continued but Sarah was led to a spreadsheet with 37 lines. Each line referenced a name and the date killed. Her father was #4 on the list and she was #37. Her murder was pending. The investigation further led her to genealogical insights into the Parke family dating back to 893 AD and the family of Æthelflæd. I loved this part of the plot as genealogy is a hobby of mine. The Æthelflæd connection became a major part of the plot. 

What is the margin? It is explained toward the ending. I was not expecting the explanation. It was a surprise that I had to think about for awhile to fully understand it. 

There is so much more to the plot that I cannot expand on due to space restrictions. For each of the story descriptions above, there is much more detail than I mentioned. Suffice to say that I  was stuck to my seat while reading this riveting story. I loved the intersection of politics, money and old family secrets. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The Fatal Farandole

This delightful cozy mystery was published a few days ago on May 29, 2026. It is the 9th installment of the Provence Cozy Mysteries series by Ana T. Drew. The main character is baker Julie Cavallo. Please note that I received a free copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.

The publisher's summary:

A beloved Provençal festival.

A murderous conspiracy.

A bullfighter who knows too much.

When two local chefs are killed within a week, shockwaves ripple through the region’s tight-knit culinary world. Suspicion lands squarely on baker Julie Cavallo. As whispers turn to accusations, her eccentric family closes ranks, and her loyal friends rally to her side.

But Julie’s running out of time. Her pastry shop is at risk. Her love life is unraveling. The gendarmes are tracking her every move. Julie can’t afford to wait for the official investigation to uncover the truth. Her instincts go into overdrive. Dots connect. Patterns appear. . .

Can Julie make it through this case, when asking the right questions has already gotten others killed?

The story opened with a bang. Our main character Julie wakes up freezing and soon sees her grandmother’s dog Lady lying near her. Lady is whimpering. She is freezing also. Julie soon realizes that she is locked in a walk in freezer. With her mind moving fast Julie sees a metal grate that she can probably fit through. All she has to do is unscrew the nails. After several nerve-wracking minutes, the grate comes off and Julie squeezes through the space, then grabs Lady. The next thing she knows she is in a hospital.

While scrounging her memory for details on how she ended up in the freezer, Julie remembers chatting with fellow chef and friend Mylene Nivault. She cannot remember anything else. After hospital discharge Julie returns to work at her gluten free pastry shop. Unfortunately, she finds out that she is a suspect in Mylene's murder. Julie didn't even know Mylene was dead, let alone murdered. Capitaine Bauer has focused on her because she is always at the scene of suspicious deaths. The news travels fast in her village, Beldoc, and Julie’s shop is not approved to be a caterer at a local festival. Friends intervene and she is finally approved. Once the bull fest begins, all hell breaks through both before and after the farandole.

So what is the farandole? I asked my french teacher. I thought she said it was a festival. After reading a few more pages I learned that the farandole is a dance. Dancers wear a cultural dress, the l'arlesienne, and the dance music was written by composer Bizet. After listening to the music on YouTube I realized that I have heard it several times in the past. 

The story had many twists, much more than I am accustomed to seeing in cozy mysteries. This was a nice surprise. Another surprise was the extensive descriptions of the Provençal setting. I learned alot more than new insights into the culture but also quite a few new French words. How the police, gendarmerie, investigated crimes and how wine appellation laws mandate which grape varieties can be used, yield limits, and specific aging processes was interesting to say the least.

Note that the differences between the wine appellation laws figure prominently in the plot. It was fascinating see how fraudsters can exploit these laws both legally and illegally. There are other laws regarding what type of paperwork is required to prove provenance. The requirements under these laws vary significantly. They, too, can easily be exploited and this created alot of suspense in the story.

The characters were well developed. Julie is an amateur sleuth who, in the past, was at the scene of several murders. Her sleuthing always puts her in danger. Julie’s grandmother Rose is a fine example of a woman aging gracefully. Rose always chooses to participate in village events and takes chances on ruining her reputation in order to have fun. Julie has a boyfriend named Gabriel. Gabriel is a police officer who seems to good to be true. However, he really is that perfect caring man. Julie has an assistant, Flo, who is the voice of reason in Julie’s circle of friends. Flo can discern the best action for situations in which Julie finds herself and force Julie to think objectively. 

I loved The Fatal Farandole and am planning on reading the entire series. While I have already read several books that I think will be in my top ten for 2026, I am adding The Fatal Fandole to my prospective list. 5 out of 5 stars.

The Singapore Secret

The Singapore Secret is a new release from Clair Willis. The narrative alternates between 1942 Singapore and present-day England. A young woman named Dorothy makes a promise during the evacuation of Singapore. Years later, her granddaughter Annabel finds a photo of her with an unknown man and Anabel begins to research the photo. 

The publisher's summary: 

Singapore 1942: With the war drawing ever closer, Dorothy faces a heart-rending choice to leave the country she has come to call home and the people she loves most. As she boards a boat full of evacuees with warplanes advancing across the ocean, a tiny baby is pressed into her arms. In that moment, Dorothy makes a promise that will echo through the years...

England, 2019: When Annabel's grandmother, Dotty, passes away aged one hundred she discovers a bundle of letters and photographs hidden in her desk that document her life in Singapore during the 1930s. But Dotty had always said she never travelled further than their small village in Cornwall. What could have made Dotty conceal this past life? Who is the man standing next to her in a wedding dress who is not Annabel's grandfather?

Determined to uncover the truth, is Annabel prepared for what she will find?

What a great story! I was hooked from the first chapter. Dorothy's story is extraordinary. She suffered so much during her eight years living in Singapore but ended up with a long and happy life in Cornwall. The book is written in a dual timeline which is a format that I enjoy. The chapters alternated between Dorothy's perspective and Annabel's perspective. I enjoyed Dorothy's story more because she had unusual life experiences. 

The story opened with Annabel Penrose deciding to spend the Easter holiday with her beloved grandmother, Dotty, in Cornwall. She needs to get away for awhile from her cheating boyfriend. When she arrives, she finds Dotty has suffered a fall and is in the hospital. Scans reveal Dotty has a tumor and could not have ever had children. Annabel is shocked because her father Noel has always been known to be Dotty’s son. Dotty soon passes away and Annabel finds herself traveling to Singapore to find out more about her grandmother. 

The story is set in Singapore during WWII. I didn't know much about the Japanese occupation of the island before reading the book but it was horrific. I don’t know how anyone could possibly have survived. Many died but many also forced themselves to survive on a day to day basis. The people living in Singapore at that time had harsh existences; too awful to describe. Reading how the war affected them was certainly eye-opening. 

The Singapore Secret was an engrossing read. I think it offers a unique perspective on the WWII historical fiction sub-genre. 5 out of 5 stars.

Midnight in the House of Commons

Midnight in the House of Commons is the 16th Charles Lenox mystery by Charles Finch. In this installment of the series a member of parliament is poisoned. The series takes place in the Victorian era in London.

The publisher's summary:

In the spring of 1881, Lenox is caught up in the whirl of London life when his brother arrives to tell him that there’s been a murder in the House of Commons. Robert Baddeley, a charismatic, womanizing Member, has been found poisoned in the hallowed chamber itself. Suspicion immediately falls on the women in his life, including his wife and mistress, but as Lenox digs deeper, he realizes that there were more than a few people who might have wanted Baddeley dead. 

Meanwhile, Lenox must balance his investigation with his family life, which has grown increasingly complicated: his ward Sari struggles with heartbreak, the Lenox household receives an odd visitor, and a young woman comes to Lenox to implore him to find her fiancé, who has mysteriously vanished. 

And just when Lenox is nearing the truth of Baddeley’s murder, someone close to him is arrested for the crime—and Lenox must race to solve the case before losing everything.

Joyfully set in ballrooms, supper parties, palaces, and Parliament, Midnight in the House of Commons takes Charles Lenox through his trickiest, most satisfying case yet.

I was disappointed with the book. It wasn't much of a whodunnit. There was plenty of Victorian era verbage that I did not see advancing the plot and after awhile I became bored. This is highly unusual for me with a Charles Finch novel. In addition, it took a few chapters for the unknown woman, Violet Goodhue (I love this name) to see Lenox and describe her predicament, which was that her fiance disappeared. Lenox interviewed the man's family and closest friends who all said he wanted out of the engagement. Of course, there is more to this subplot.

 The murder itself did not occur until we were almost at the halfway mark in the story. That is too late for a mystery novel but note that the plot picked up speed here. Member of Parliament Robert Baddeley was found dead at midnight in the House of Commons Chamber. Baddeley was known to work late into the night so none of the maintenance crew were surprised to see him working late that evening. They were surprised to find his body when they opened up the Chamber for cleaning. The police later determined that he was poisoned with chloral. Chloral will kill within 15 minutes of exposure. For his investigation, Detective Lenox interviewed Baddeley’s associates as well as the night crew on site that evening.

I have been known to watch Prime Ministers Questions which is shown live on TV from the House of Commons Chambers on Wednesdays. As such, I am familiar with the decor and procedures in the House. The author accurately portrayed the scene. I was surprised where the body was placed in the Chamber and instantly knew it was staged. However, the Chamber was locked and no one should have been able to access it. A woman claiming to be Baddeley’s sister signed herself in on the premises though. The sticky point here is that Baddeley did not have a sister. Another unusual fact was the location of his office. Baddeley should have been assigned a better location for his office. Lenox was told by several men that the office was where men could meet their mistresses. All these facts Charles Lenox had to sift through in order to find the killer. The rest of the story followed the murder mystery formula with several twists and turns.

The suspects included Baddeley’s chief assistant whom he was going to fire. Mr. Cole was the last person to see him alive and his father was a chemist. The French and Russian governments were also considered. Baddeley’s wealthy wife and mistress rounded out the pool of suspects. 

I am rating the book 3 out of 5 stars. While the beginning was slow, once the investigation began the story became much more interesting. Also, note that I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Honey in the Wound

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Honey in the Wound is the debut novel of Jiyoung Han. The story is about a Korean family confronting the brutality of the Japanese empire. The Japanese occupied Korea and parts of China during this era. It's an epic tale of five generations of one family. It was published on April 7, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

A sister disappears and returns as a tiger. A mother’s voice compels the truth from any tongue. A granddaughter divines secrets in others’ dreams. These women are all of one lineage—a Korean family split across decades and borders by Japanese imperialism.

At this saga’s heart is Young-Ja, a girl who infuses food with her emotions. She revels in her gift for cooking, nourishing the people she loves with her cheerfulness. But her sunny childhood comes to an end in 1931 when Japanese soldiers crush her family’s defiance against the Empire. Young-Ja is cast adrift, her food turning increasingly bitter with grief. When a Korean rebel fighter notices her talents, however, she is whisked off to Manchuria to join a secretive sisterhood of beautiful teahouse spies. There, Young-Ja finds a new sense of belonging and starts using her abilities for the resistance. But the Imperial Army is not yet finished with her…

Decades later, Young-Ja lives alone in Seoul, withdrawn from the world until her Tokyo-born granddaughter Rinako bursts into her life with the ability to see into dreams. In cultivating a tentative bond, they confront the long-buried past in a stunning emotional climax.

As an unforgettable family perseveres in the long shadow of colonialism, Honey in the Wound transports readers to mountain forests where tiger-girls stalk, to Manchurian teahouses and opium dens where charming smiles veil secrets, and to the modern metropolises of Tokyo and Seoul where restless ghosts stir. This debut novel is a tender yet powerful multi-generational drama that shines light onto the twentieth century’s darkest corners and gives voice to those who bore witness.

I found writing my review of this book was difficult. So much happened that I didn't know where to start. It's an emotional story for sure and I felt that my emotions were overwhelmed. Heart-wrenching is the best word to describe the book. The story centers on Young-Ja, whose ability to cook her emotions into food was her superpower as a youth. This is where the magical realism joins the plot. When her family was executed by Japanese soldiers, Young-Ja ran and hid. She was lucky to survive but her overwhelming grief made her susceptible to corrupt men. Right after Young-Ja's family passed away, she was found unconscious near a lake. A barren couple took her in and treated her as their own. Young-Ja stayed with them for several years but when the husband began sexually assaulting her during the night, the wife gave her to a man who offered Young-Ja a fantastic job in China. 

The job was not fantastic. Young-Ja was forced to work long hours in a tea house kitchen in the northern area of Korea.  However, she thrived there and was promoted to hostess in the tea rooms. She and her fellow hostesses and servers listened to conversations that Japanese soldiers had among themselves. This information was given to people in the resistance movement. After nine years, the Japanese arrested the tea house owner and burned it to the ground. Unfortunately, Young-Ja ended being kidnapped and taken to Manchuria to be a comfort woman for Japanese soldiers. Her life gets even worse.

This is a sad story but realistic for the time and place. The author did a fine job writing about this unknown event in history. She showed how horribly the Koreans were treated by the Japaneses soldiers. Young-Ja's life affected me deeply. I mourned with her every time something bad happened to her. 

All of the characters were well developed. Young-Ja's grandparents had an interesting backstory. I loved reading about them. Her grandmother Myoung-Ok toiled as a farmer. When Myoung-OK eventually married Dahn, who was considered a giant by the villagers, she left her agrarian existence and moved to the mountains with him. There they gave birth to twins. Geum-Jin married Song Jung-Soon even though she had a facial disfigurement. They raised several children including Young-Ja. Their story was also intriguing and one of the best parts of the book. 

While Honey in the Wound is a good book, I don't know if I should recommend it. It made me sad for about a week after I finished reading. Who wants to deal with that! My rating of 5 out of 5 stars reflects the fantastic research that went into the story as well as the writing of this saga.

Dear Debbie

Dear Debbie is Freida McFadden's newest novel. It was published on January 21, 2026 and I must say it was fantastic. Debbie writes an advice column for a local newspaper similar to the Dear Abby columns I read while growing up. However, Debbie has a screw loose. No, ten loose screws.

The publisher's summary:

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction. Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person.

She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.

And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

When the story began Debbie was frequently featured at social events with friends. Nothing untoward was obvious. She attended a monthly book club with neighbors who lived on her block who openly disparaged her lack of class and higher education. Debbie desperately wants to fit in and accepts this mistreatment as necessary to endure. Later these friends begin to ridicule her intense behavior behind her back. They gossip about rumors that she spent a few months in a psychiatric hospital. Debbie’s next door neighbor Brett then accuses her of breaking into his basement and destroying his fuse box because she complained to the police about his loud music. Brett screams at her and later her husband Cooper every chance he gets.

Debbie has a beautiful garden and it is going to be featured in a local magazine. However, when the photographers don't show up she learns that the magazine canceled the photo shoot and were instead going to feature a neighbor's garden. Jo is known for having the best roses in the community. Debbie feels that Jo sabotaged her shoot and after midnight she plants beetles in the dirt of Jo's garden. By morning the beetles were all over the flowers and the photographer refused to take photos. Of course Jo blamed Debbie and Jo publicly screamed at her several times.

Most of the chapters begin with drafts of her column wherein she suggests that the complaining women kill their husbands. Debbie’s actions are slowly revealed but her duplicity is not known to the reader until the halfway point. Debbie is always calm. Her friends and neighbors are shown as explosive. 

Following the garden incident, we see Debbie plotting revenge on other neighbors as well as her husband's boss. The boss refused to promote Cooper and, in a huff, he quit his job. She also sought revenge on her daughter's soccer coach for removing her from the team. At this time Debbie was fired from her job as an advice columnist for suggesting a wife kill her husband. 

Debbie is clearly nuts. I enjoyed reading about her unraveling. Frankly, I loved some of her vengeance because these characters definately deserved it. It's interesting to note that Debbie is both the protagonist and the villain. This works though. 

Dear Debbie is a nother great McFadden novel. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.