The Local Man #1

I have been wanting to read The Local Man for awhile and finally found time to read it. This volume collects releases one through five of the acclaimed hit series by Tony Fleecs and Tim Seeley. Volume 1 has 169 pages of brightly colored comic strip panels. There are several additional volumes that continue to tell this story. The series features many superhero characters. It was published in September 2023.

Jack Xaver is the main character. He was once the star recruit of the media sensation super-team Third Gen and was known as Crossjack. He had it all. However, he lost everything after getting fired. That him crawling back to his parent's basement in the Midwest. Jack struggles to fit into the world he left behind twenty years ago. Everyone in his small town of Farmington, Wisconsin are angry at him and do not want him there. After an adversary dies following a fight with Jack, he is arrested for murder. Jack has  an alibi though, a police officer's wife. 

Each of the five releases contained a main story and a flashback story. This pretty much confused me until I reread the book a second time. Interestingly, the setting is called the Image Universe. There is also a religious element too. I cannot imagine what any of it had to do with the plot and assume it will be explained in future releases. Also note that this comic is for adult readers only. There is alot of foul language, violence and sexy scenes. 

I still don't know where this series is going. Several superheroes were introduced but I didn't catch what their purpose was. Some of them worked with Jack at Third Gen though. Jack's scenes with his parents were the part of the book that I enjoyed the most, probably because they made sense to me. His parents are insisting that he reveal why he lost his job and that he get another job ASAP. They are practicing Christians and Jack obviously is not so there is tension between them.

This volume of the series set up the storyline that will follow. The characters have been introduced and the plot has space to grow. All in all, it was a good read. 3 out of 5 stars.

Icons of Design (Black Lives #2)

I received a free uncorrected proof of Icons of Design from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.  This 128 page graphic novel was written for kids aged 8 through 12 and it will be published on January 5, 2027. Black Lives is a new graphic novel series from award-winning author Tonya Bolden and illustrator David Wilkerson that celebrates the lives of Black innovators and legends and helps bring lesser-known histories to life. 

The publisher's summary:

Learn about the remarkable work of costume designers, toy makers, and architects in award-winning author Tonya Bolden and illustrator David Wilkerson’s exciting new graphic novel series about some of the most fascinating Black lives in history

Ann Lowe (fashion designer). Ed Welburn (automotive designer). Ruth E. Carter (costume designer). These aren’t names that many people learn about in school, but they’re some of the greatest designers that people should know about—and they join the ranks of toy designers, architects, and graphic designers celebrated in Icons of Design.

Each faced challenges as they rose to the top of their professions, but they didn’t back down. They kept creating and experimenting and learning, and they made significant contributions in each of their fields!

The lives of nine African American designers are featured in this informative graphic novel. It covers designers in the late 1800s to the present. The types of design included landscape, fashion, costume, car, toy and graphic design. These nine designers are Gus Williston, Ann Lowe, jewelry designer Art Smith, industrial designer Chuck Harrison, architect Roberta Washington, car designer Ed Welburn, costume designer Ruth Carter, toy designer David Vonner, and graphic designer Gail Anderson.

I particularly enjoyed the life story of landscape architect David Augustus Williston. He was born shortly after the end of the Civil War. Gus, as he was called, loved gardening as a child and eventually was admitted to a teacher training program at Normal School, later known as Howard University in Washington DC. Gus wanted more education and landed a spot at Cornell University, after being forced to take eight entrance exams. He wrote a thesis titled Atmospheric Drainage and graduated in 1897 with a bachelor of science degree in aagriculture. Gus did not stop learning more and more about landscaping. He had steady work throughout his life and opened his own design firm, earning plenty of prestigious clients. 

Another designer I loved was fashion designer Ann Lowe. She experienced many setbacks in her career due to her race but was so good at designing ball gowns that she was hired to design Jackie Bouvier's wedding dress when she married JFK. 

My incorrected proof of this graphic novel did not have any coloring for the drawings. I think it will end up with bold colors though because the book cover is a bright blue. It’s quite striking.  Icons of Design is an inspirational book. I loved reading all of the biographies inside its pages and certainly learned alot. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton

 

Jennifer Brown's The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton was just published a few days ago on April 14, 2026. It is a historical fiction account of the life of Elizabeth Barton who lived in the 1500s during the reign of Henry VIII. She claimed to have seen visions of purgatory and hell. The book is a dual timeline murder mystery set in an English country manor, when an ambitious professor discovers the long-lost manuscript of Barton.

The publisher's summary:  

Historian Alison Sage has made a groundbreaking archival discovery—she found a manuscript containing the prophecies of a 16th century nun, Elizabeth Barton. Barton’s prophecy condemning Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn led to her execution and the destruction of all copies of her prophecies—or so the world believed.

With Alison’s discovery, she is catapulted to academic superstardom and scores an invitation to the exclusive Codex Consortium, a week of research among a select handful of fellow historians at a crumbling manor in England, located next to the ruins of the priory where Elizabeth herself once lived.

What begins as a promising conference turns into a nightmare as the eerie house becomes the site of a murder. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect, and it seems that answers lie at the root of a local legend about centuries-old hidden treasure. Alison’s research makes her best-suited to solve the mystery—but when old feelings resurface for a former colleague, and the stakes of the search skyrocket, everyone's motives become murky.

Alison’s cutthroat world of academia is almost as dangerous as Elizabeth Barton’s sixteenth-century England, where heretics are beheaded, visions can kill, and knowing who to trust is a deadly art. The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a thrilling novel, crackling with the voices of the past and propelled by a mystery that will leave readers in suspense until the very last page.

I became hooked in the story from its first chapters. Initially I was more interested in Barton’s perspective but that changed as the story progressed. While the beginning chapters were longer in Barton’s timeline, this changed as Alison’s research became more prominent.

All of the characters in Barton’s timeline were actual historical figures. Barton’s mentor Father Bocking was hanged along with Barton at Tyburn. Oliver Cromwell, Thomas Cranmer, Cardinal Wolsey, and Thomas More all played a fairly prominent role in this timeline. None of them believed the veracity of Barton’s visions but used her to further their political and religious ambitions. Bocking was the liaison between Barton and his superiors. He told Barton what to say when she was being questioned by them and he is the person who wrote down her visions and compiled them into a book. He was aware the visions were false but he embellished them in an effort to keep King Henry in the Catholic Church. He is one of the villains of the story. Another real life character is Bishop John Fisher who is an ancestor of mine. To complete the characters are Prioress Philippa who housed Elizabeth at St. Sepulchre Priory as well as Lady Vale, owner of the manor house in which the present day story took place.

The present day story featured Dr. Alison Sage, a made up character as were all of the characters in this timeline. All seemed to be possible villains except Sage. Their character descriptions were mysterious which I assume is what the author desired. She did well by these interesting characters. While the book has been described as a murder mystery, the murder didn't occur until 70% into the story. None of the earlier storyline affected my enjoyment of the book. The plot was excellent up to this point. In fact, I forgot the book was a murder mystery. Honestly, I  thought the murder victim was going to be Barton. As the police, along with the other characters, investigated the crime more and more information, fictional, about what the Prioress Philippa and Lady Vale did after Barton’s death was clever. 

I learned a few new to me medieval terms. The hellmouth, the transi tomb and the leper's squint were fully described. A hellmouth is a an artistic rendition of the entrance to hell. It was used to scare people from straying from the fairh. The transi tomb depicts the dead person buried there as a decayed body, instead of the usual lifelike representation of the deceased. The leper's squint is basically a tiny hole in a wall used by leper's to hear the mass. The priest hole was better described than in other books I've read and the word "pursuivants" was new to me. It refers to people who were looking for Catholic sympathizers. 

After finishing the book I looked Barton up on Wikipedia. She was a real life person. I noticed that a painting of her done during her lifetime is part of the book cover. It was interesting to note that every detail of her life shown on Wikipedia was also shown in the book. I am amazed that author Jennifer Brown was able to craft a story with all of this information included within its pages. 

What interested me to get the book? It was the book cover. It was intriguing with its color pallette, an oil painting and the crossed out name of Elizabeth Barton. The cover design convinced me to read the book's summary which also intrigued me. 

The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton is a fascinating portrait of Barton. It may be in my top ten books of 2026! 5 out of 5 stars.

Death in the Church

Death in the Church was published on March 31, 2026. It is a historical fiction story set in the time of Constantine the Great.

The publisher's summary: 

A controversial priest dies suddenly on the steps of the great cathedral, moments before his long‑awaited readmission after years of excommunication. Church leaders hail his death as a divine sign.

But Captain Aurelius — the trusted imperial aide assigned by Constantine himself to investigate — is not convinced. Was this truly an act of God, or the work of someone far more earthly? As he retraces the priest's final moments and unravels the decades of disputes that made the man a target, Aurelius uncovers secrets capable of igniting civil war in both the Empire and the Church.

Named for the philosopher‑emperor of earlier days, Aurelius soon realizes that the future of his world may hinge on what he discovers. And as the lines between faith and ambition blur, he must confront a question more dangerous than any enemy. Is his world being led by saints… or by demons

The mystery itself was about the death of Arius. It took a long time in the story for Arius to be killed. Common folks believed that God smote him before he could enter the local Cathedral and that his intestines burst open and spilled on the ground. Arius had a following among the poor. His belief that Jesus was a regular human being who later became god. Most of the priests in the church believed otherwise, that Jesus was always God and only became man to redeem the world. Emporer Constantine tasked his aide Aurelius to determine what was happening in his empire. 

Constantine eventually had to convene a gathering of priests in Nicea to determine whether Jesus was both human and divine. The document that came out of the gathering is the Nicene Creed. So, Arius was definitely controversial. Soon thereafter a fellow named Arsenius went missing. Bishop Arsenius was from Mellitia. His supporters feared that he was kidnapped by the Alexandrians. 

Another church battle took place in Alexandria where a schismatic priest named Melitius stirred half of Upper Egypt into rebellion against their bishops. He was also ordaining priests without the Church’s permission. This event took up alot of space in the story.

I didn't see much of an investigation into the death of Arius. Eventually we read that he never died and that the poor were telling tales concerning his death. The dialogue between the characters was florid. I had some difficulty keeping track of who said what because the character names, while normal for the 300s, were hard to read. I got bogged down with the verbage.

The setting was supreme. The character names are supported by historians and the religious debates of the age are described in detail. My problem is that there wasn't much else in the book other than the setting and era. I expected a historical mystery but obviously my expectations were wrong. 

I am rating the book 2.8 stars out of 5 stars.

The Ivory City

I discovered this lovely book from my kindle ad feed. It is a historical mystery and the author is new (to me). Emily Bain Murphy has written several books including YA fantasy and adult historical fiction. The Ivory City was published in November 2025.

The publisher's summary:

The St. Louis World’s Fair, 1904:  A miniature city of palaces and pavilions that becomes a backdrop for romance, betrayal—and murder.

Cousins Grace and Lillie have been best friends since birth, despite Grace’s vastly inferior social status ever since her mother married for love instead of wealth. When Lillie invites Grace to the biggest event of the century—the legendary World’s Fair, also known as “The Ivory City”—Grace hopes her fortunes might be about to change.  

But when a member of their party is brutally killed at the fair, and suspicion falls on Lillie’s brother Oliver, Grace must prove Oliver’s innocence before her beloved cousins’ family is ruined forever.

Along the way, she'll discover that the city’s wealthy elite—including Oliver’s handsome but irritable friend Theodore—aren’t quite who they appear to be. And amidst the glitz, glamor, and magic of the Ivory City lurks a danger that just may claim her life. 

While this novel is a well plotted mystery, it is the characters that bring it to life. Grace Covington, 18, is the main character. She is socially inferior to every other character because her mother married down. Grace is the most moral person in the story though. She has high standards to live by and she actually follows them. Her beloved cousins Lillie and Oliver love being rich, especially Lillie. Lillie, also 18, tends to follow all of high society's rules with the exception of including Grace in all of her activities. She receives alot of throwback from her friends and her mother but loves Grace too much to exclude her. That said, Lillie behaves like the spoiled brat that she is. She lies in order to get her way and frequently sneaks out of the house. Oliver is a happy go lucky twenty year old. He loves going to all of the balls and other high society functions. All of the ladies are trying to catch him because of his family’s extraordinary wealth. 

Aunt Clove is a villain but not the true villain of the book. She hates Grace and wants her out of her kids' lives. She believes Grace is reducing their marriage prospects. The name Clove is interesting. Cloves are a sweet but pungent spice that requires additional spices to make it palatable. Pungent is a good adjective to describe Aunt Clove. Lillie’s friends complete the characters. All of them are rich snobs who lie and cheat in order to advance themselves socially. Lillie unfortunately does not see this. 

The setting is extraordinary. The reader can feel the awe that the fair's exhibits draw from the characters. They see the Chinese emporer living within a replica of one of his palaces. The Japanese exhibit had extravagant detail, and Thomas Edison was present at the Electrical City. He gave lectures on the promise of electricity. The Philippine Villlage was the largest one. It was used so the United States to show off the colonization of this recently acquired territory. Many more exhibits were described in detail. I can imagine how awe inspiring all of the exhibits were to those living in the 1800s. I felt the same wonder as the characters. One part of St. Louis was called the Tunnels. This is where you can find drugs and prostitutes. Addicts and prostitutes not only do business there but also live there. The Tunnels were described as being dangerous enough that you could get killed there. Author Emily Bain Murphy's description of the Tunnels scared me as well as the characters. She did a fantastic job of showing the reader the setting.

The death occurred about 100 pages into this 340 page story. Oliver’s secret girlfriend Harriet died right after he gave her a cocktail to drink. Harriet was despised by the rich because she was an actress. The police arrested Oliver and charged him with Harriet's murder as there was strichnine in the cocktail. Lillie and Grace vow to clear him but it is really Grace who works to identify the actual killer. Lillie is too consumed by society's rebuke of her family following Oliver’s arrest. Grace and her new found friend Theodore Parker made a list of possible killers. As they considered each one, the two of them spoke with several of them to determine whether they should be crossed off the list. There were plenty of red herrings while these two worked their list. The real whodunnit was a surprise though.

The Ivory City was recommended to me by several people. I knew it would be good but I was not prepared for how good it actually is. I absolutely LOVED this historical mystery. 5 out of 5 stars.

Buried Secrets

I was in alot of pain a few days ago and I thought an Amish fiction novel would be beneficial. This genre is my go-to place for comfort. It always works. Buried Secrets is the first novel in the author's Amish Book Club Mystery series. She states that it is a cozy Amish mystery, not Amish fiction. I guess that it qualifies as a cozy mystery. Tracy Fredrychowski is a new to me author and I loved her take for the series. The book was just published on April 1, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

A grave opened in the night. An empty coffin. And a group of elderly Amish sleuths must confront the secrets Sweet Briar tried to bury. Rosie Weaver treasures her simple, steady life — tending her garden, sharing tea with her monthly book club, and keeping danger safely tucked inside her books. Still, widowhood has left her the time to be watchful, even when she pretends otherwise.

When a young man’s coffin is discovered empty in the cemetery, Sweet Briar’s calm fractures overnight. The discovery unsettles Rosie and her group with a mystery they cannot ignore, prompting them to wonder what else lies buried beneath their small town.

As whispers about Josiah Miller’s rough past and bad crowd grow louder, Rosie, Irma Gingerich, and Lovina Frey realize they can no longer stand aside. Teaming up and cautiously sparring with English Sheriff Johnathan Carr, the three friends begin to untangle a story far more complicated than anyone expected. What kind of man is worth stealing from the grave, and who’s trying to protect his sins?

I must say right away that the book is written as a cozy mystery. The fact that most of the characters are Amish is coincidental. The cozy formula was used to write the story. 

The story opened with Clara Miller tidying up her fabric shop and complaining to herself about her son Josiah. Josiah was hanging out with Englishers, staying out late and, shock of all shocks, purchased fabrics for the shop that had modern designs. As an Amish woman Clara was fuming about the waste of money on these awful fabrics. She was also upset that she couldn't control Josiah. She thought he might leave the Amish community. By the end of the day Josiah had a buggy accident and died. 

Owen Kurtz is a gruff Amish man who saw the accident. He is a carpenter who just happened to have a pine coffin on his trailer. Owen kept passersby from seeing the body. He immediately put Josiah's body in the coffin, covered him with a horse blanket and drove the coffin to Bishop Zook's home. No one other than Owen saw the body. He maneuvered to keep folks away from the body and Josiah was buried the next day. Suspicious huh? As the summary above states, someone dug up the coffin and found that it contained bricks. No Josiah though. Later the body was found in Owen's barn.

Rosie Weaver hosts a weekly book club meeting with two other ladies in her cafe where a chapter is discussed each week. The plot of the book they were reading was eerily similar to an ongoing death investigation in their Sweet Briar community. After discussing their book they couldn't help but talk about the mystery surrounding the death of Josiah Miller. These three ladies, Rosie, Irma and Lovina, decided to do a little sleuthing of their own which irritated the Sheriff.

The Sheriff mentioned to Rosie that the death was a homicide. The way Owen described the body was very different from the way it actually appeared. There were witnesses to the buggy crash whose testimony differed from that of Owen.  The trio managed to identify the whodunnit and there was a big reveal at the end of the story.

Rosie Weaver is the main character. Her sleuthing abilities are extraordinary and she will make a fantastic amateur sleuth for future installments of the series. The mystery was perfectly plotted with a fast pace. I adored this story and am looking forward to reading more cozy Amish mysteries from the author. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Daughter of Egypt

Daughter of Egypt explores the lives of two powerful women separated by thousands of years. Hatshepsut lived in 1486 BCE in Thebes, Egypt. Evelyn Herbert lived in the 1920s in Hampshire, England. She grew up in Highclere Castle and went with her father Lord Carnarvon and his friend Howard Carter to Egypt every summer. They were excavating the royal tombs for treasure. The book was published on March 24, 2026

The publisher's summary:

In the 1920s, archeologist Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon of Highclere Castle made headlines around the world with the discovery of the treasure-filled tomb of the boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun. But behind it all stood Lady Evelyn Herbert―daughter of Lord Carnarvon―whose daring spirit and relentless curiosity made the momentous find possible.

Nearly 3,000 years earlier, another woman defied the expectations of her time: Hatshepsut, Egypt’s lost pharaoh. Her reign was bold, visionary―and nearly erased from history.

When Evelyn becomes obsessed with finding Hatshepsut’s secret tomb, she risks everything to uncover the truth about her reign and keep valued artifacts in Egypt, their rightful home. But as danger closes in and political tensions rise, she must make an impossible choice: protect her father’s legacy―or forge her own.

Propelled by high adventure and deadly intrigue, Daughter of Egypt is the story of two ambitious women who lived centuries apart. Both were forced to hide who they were during their lifetimes, yet ultimately changed history forever.

The story was told in an alternating format. Four or five chapters were devoted to Hatshepsut and then four or five to Lady Evelyn. I quickly became interested in Hatshepsut. She was a pharoah in her own right and this impressed me. Her political strategies helped elevate her to Queen, Regent and then Pharoah. I don't know if her machinations were true to life or imagined by the author. Lady Evelyn or Eve didn't excite me until her parents allowed her to travel with them to Thebes for archaeological digs. Her story then picked up. Her mother was trying to marry her off so Eve had to attend balls in both England and Cairo. She wasn't interested in marriage yet but never really met anyone who wanted a smart wife and she intended to continue her educational pursuits. Eve was fascinated with Hatshepsut. Howard Carter shared this fascination and they would select places to dig based on where they thought her tomb was located. Lord Carnarvon was none the wiser.

The politics of 1920s Egypt was a part of the story. There were Egyptian insurgents who were fighting for Egypt’s independence. In the story it took about ten years. Before the insurgents became successful, the laws allowed Carter and Carnarvon to keep whatever artifacts they dug up. They got rich by selling a few pieces but both men had huge private collections of Egyptian art. After the first elections on Egypt those laws were changed. The nation then owned everything found in the tombs. We know from history that this archeological team discovered King Tutankhamun's tomb. 

I enjoyed reading about both women's passion to be more than society allowed. Both achieved their wishes and the book had a feminist feel good vibe that I am always attracted to. I have read other accounts of Hatshepsut’s life and it never gets too old for me. She is such a captivating character from history. There is much more to the story though. Alot of pages are devoted to the archeological excavations and the banter between Carter and Lord Carnarvon.

I loved the book. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars. 

Mother of Red Mountains

Mother of Red Mountains  was published on December 16, 2024. It's a family saga that takes place in China after the Revolution. The story is a historical fiction novel that is based on true events and real people. It won many awards in 2025 and 2026.

The publisher's summary:

In the shadow of China’s tumultuous mid-20th century, an ambitious civil engineer is determined to protect her baby girls.

Despite a childhood marked by tragedies, Jun carves out a stable life for herself while shrewdly and skillfully navigating a male-dominated and politically charged society. As she rises through the ranks in her profession, she turns to her in-laws to help care for her daughters.

But when the Red Guards threaten her young family due to their connection with her in-laws’ capitalist class, Jun fears their very existence is in jeopardy.

Amid frequent threats to their safety, can Jun rise above the challenges and safeguard both her family’s future and their fragile stability?

Mother of Red Mountains is a historical tale that creatively weaves together history, personal stories, and the complex culture of revolutionary China, magnificently crafted by Apple An. Showcasing the power of sheer grit and determination, this book traces the journey of a formidable woman who dares to dream against all odds.

The book sweeps across multiple remarkable decades during which China was experiencing the throes of socio-political upheaval. Laying between its covers is the intriguing story of Jun, from an innocent girl who helps her Baba’s shop to an ambitious woman, who despite hardship and amid rampant gender inequality, aspires for more than her preordained life. With grit, wit, and hard work, Jun becomes a star civil engineer at the best institute in the country with a great promise for a bright future. Jun’s life takes an unexpected turn at the onset of China’s Cultural Revolution when constant raids of Red Guards frighten her toddler girls, being cared for by her capitalist in-laws.

Apple An encapsulates the authenticity of a dramatic era and the soul of a woman who navigates political and personal turmoil and eventually finds her motherhood surpasses all her ambitions and expectations in life. Each character is finely etched, while the vivid descriptions of China - its vast landscapes, unique customs, and people - strike a chord of familiarity yet curious fascination.

I enjoyed the book but must say that the summary above is a little deceptive. Jun does not have to deal with the Red Guards until the very end and her contact with them was only with their poor treatment of her in laws.

Xiaojun, or Jun, grew up in Chifeng, which means red mountain, with older brothers Xi-Chang and Xi-Dan and a younger sister named Xia. Jun helped her father with the bookkeeping for the family’s grocery market from a young age. She was very smart and learned fast. Jun was her father’s favorite child not only because she was smart but because of her beauty. Jun’s mother died when she was twelve. She became responsible for Xia as oldest brother Xi-Chang was in the army and Xi-Dan married quickly in order to get sons that could carry on the family business. Soon thereafter Jun’s father turned sixty and sold the family business. Money was left for Jun to continue her educational pursuits as well as Xia's. Jun was on her own with responsibility for Xia while she was still in middle school but she didn't have any concerns about any of it. Jun developed romantic feelings with Yanshao. She thought these feelings were reciprocated as the two of them spent every available time together.

Jun wanted to attend college but that required three years of high school. Being shrewd, Jun decided to attend vocational school with Yanshao. She would still be able to work as a civil engineer. The school was located in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia where both male and female students were accepted. She selected this career because it would help rebuild China under the communists. Jun thought that the country would benefit from the communist doctrine. She graduated and began working as a civil engineer. Jun always impressed her bosses with her work ethic and ability to solve problems. However, she was placed in a job near the school but Yanshao was sent to a rural area. Jun was courted by Bin-Kai and they soon married and had a daughter named Lianlian.

The story ended abruptly with the Red Guards harassing Jun's in-laws. You have to get another book to find the ending. This disappointed me. I can see Jun’s story continuing in another volume but feel there should have been more to this particular novel. 

All things considered, I loved this novel and am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

Girl in a Red Silk Sari

I love reading Indian fiction so I could not pass up this book when I found it on Amazon. The author, Sharon Maas, is new to me. I am surprised that I have never heard of her before as she writes historical fiction about women and their struggles. Her past settings include France, Germany and India. Girl in a Red Silk Sari was published in April 2025.

The publisher's summary:

Madras, India. Caroline steps off the plane into the searing heat, senseless with worry. So much has changed since her first visit. This time, a piece of her heart is missing. This time, she is here to find her daughter…

Caroline Mitchell has never truly made peace with her past—and the circumstances that led to her separation from her beloved child. And when thirteen-year-old Asha vanishes without a trace, she faces every parent’s worst nightmare.

Desperate to find her, Caroline returns to India determined to do whatever it takes. The search will mean reconnecting with her estranged husband Kamal, and burying the memories of everything that happened between them. It will lead to the darkest corners of Mumbai’s infamous red-light district—a world of shadows, secrets, and unspeakable horrors. There, she discovers her precious daughter has been caught in a trafficking ring that preys on vulnerable children.

As Caroline navigates the labyrinthine streets and corrupt systems of Mumbai, she must find the strength to become the mother she has always wanted to be. Her mission will test her in ways she could never have imagined—but can she reach Asha in time, and save her from a terrifying fate? And if so, will she finally be able to heal the wounds of the past.

This was a captivating story. The first half introduces us to the characters, their lives, loves, personality and family backgrounds. Later the story becomes a mystery as Asha's friends and family search for her. While the pace was always good it speeds up into a frantic pace as the search for Asha continues. 

All of the characters were fascinating. It was interesting that they all had different personalities but got along well. Caroline is the stereotypical New England Brahmin. In her youth she was more adventurous which is why she moved to India with new husband Kamal. Kamal was a quiet man who always followed his family’s honor system. When they arrived in India, Caroline's thesis research required that they split up their living arrangements. She could never have completed her research if she followed Kamal to his place of employment, two hours away from her. Caroline lived with the Pandian family who allowed her to have few responsibilities. After the birth of her daughter Asha she left the care of the baby to the family. It began with nursing struggles. I was surprised that Caroline continually made decisions that separated her from caring for the baby. It’s not something I expected a wealthy woman would do and if she was home in America her mother probably would have helped her bond with the baby. She was selfish to the n'th degree. 

After two years in India Caroline was homesick and went home for a visit. Of course, she left Asha in India. Caroline decided to remain in America, without Asha, and thought that Kamal would follow her back to America. However, Kamal kept getting good engineering jobs in India and stayed there. Both thought the marriage would last though. It didn't because Caroline had an affair.

Asha stayed with the Pandian family eight more years until Mr. and Mrs. Pandian died in an auto accident. Asha was sold by her Pandian brother to a brothel. When her parents realize that she is missing they both gather together in India to find her. There were many twists in the search. My heart felt sorrowful each time they hit a roadblock. I was invested in the lives of this family and felt that I was part of the family too. These were intense feelings.

Girl in a Red Silk Sari is an emotional journey. I absolutely loved it. 5 out of 5 stars.

Total Suplex of the Heart

Total Suplex of the Heart was published in 2024 by Humanoids. This 161 page graphic novel is about a young journalist, Georgie, who goes undercover in the local hardcore wrestling scene, exploring themes of identity, toxic relationships, and self-discovery in a male-dominated world. The story is inspired by author Joanne Starer's own experiences.

The publisher's summary:  

Glowing up isn’t the same as growing up.

Georgie’s always been nerdy: Teased by jocks, spending her lunchtime with a comic in hand, and falling in love with wrestling from Saturday nights on the couch with her dad. But that was then – This is now!

She’s out of school, freelancing as a journalist, and hot as heck. In an effort to prove to her mom that she has a “real job,” she goes undercover in the local hardcore wrestling scene to investigate a piece. She’s quickly swept up in the drama, both in and out of the ring. With new friendships developing and potential romance blossoming, she’s riding the wave of attention that temporarily silences her own insecurities. But as girl fights, casual hook-ups, and creepy older men begin to dominate her days, Georgie has to ask herself who really holds the power in her life, and whether she’s happy with where it’s headed.

This was an enjoyable story. It would be nice if it continued with another release. I cannot remember any past comic concerning the wrestling world so the story is unique. Poor Georgie had to endure alot of sexism but she let it all fall by the wayside. The wrestlers who became her friends were always trying to get her into bed and a few of them got lucky. At one point Georgie thought she was pregnant and didn't know who the father might be. It turned out her menses stopped because of her anorexia. She questioned her relationship with Steve. They were living together but Georgie was doing all of the work in the relationship as well as in their business teaching women how to wrestle. 

Georgie was a sympathetic character, the only one in the comic. Her mental health struggles and the trauma from being raised by an incompetent mother scared her. She accepted poor treatment from her friends because she felt that was all she deserved. You just want to hug her. 

Total Suplex of the Heart is an intriguing story. I am rating it 4 out of 5 stars.

I Could Pee on This

This is a book of poetry, seemingly written by cats. Published in 2012, it is a humorous book perfect for cat lovers. As the publisher states:  

Animal lovers will laugh out loud at the quirkiness of their feline friends with these insightful and curious poems from the singular minds of funny cats.

With poem titles like "Who Is That on Your Lap?," "This Is My Chair," "Kneel Before Me," "Nudge," and "Some of My Best Friends Are Dogs," the poems collected in I Could Pee on This perfectly capture the inner workings of the cat psyche.

With photos of the cat "authors" throughout, this whimsical poetry book reveals kitties at their wackiest and most exasperating (but always lovable).

The poems are placed in four categories:  family, work, play and exisyence. All of my favorite poems are in the family category and include the title poem I Could Pee on This:  

Her new sweater doesn’t smell of me 

I could pee on that 

She’s gone out for the day and left her laptop on the counter

I could pee on that

Her new boyfriend just pushed my head away 

I could pee on him

She’s ignoring me ignoring her 

I could pee everywhere 

She’s making up for it by putting me on her lap 

I could pee on this 

I could pee on this 

I also loved a cat proverb: They say there are twenty-four hours in a day but I’m only up for three of them and two I consider overtime.

The funny jokes within these poems will appeal to men and women of all ages but may not be appropriate for kids. Some of the poems, not many, contain salty language. I can see this book on my coffee table. While it's not large, just 112 pages, I think my guests will enjoy it. Of course, all my guests are cat lovers.

3 stars out of 5 stars.

The Lightbearer #1

Son of Light is the first book in the Lightbearer comic series. In just 21 pages the reader is introduced to Tomiwa. Tomiwa is  just a 13-year-old student trying to survive school, family expectations, and everyday life in the city of Lagos. However, he  sees things that no one else can see. Strange moments begin to happen. Shadows that move when they shouldn't, silence that falls when everything should be loud, and a feeling that he is being watched. Then one day, everything changes. A mysterious figure rescued him from a car accident. This figure is always calm and radiant. He has been watching Tomiwa for a long time.

I am not sure who or what the figure is. He is most likely an angel but I also wondered if he was Jesus. The story seems to show that there is a hidden battle happening around us every day. The battle is between light and darkness that most people cannot see. Tomiwa can see it though. I believe Tomiwa is a lightbearer. Lightbearers are people who embody and share goodness, virtue, and positive impact, regardless of religious affiliation. They are people who step in to help others, act with integrity, and stand up for what's right, even in small ways.

I am definitely interested in reading more of the series. We rarely see a comic that embodies goodness. Written by Samson Awobusuyi, the comic offers us a new kind of African superhero. According to the publisher the series has African storytelling, a superhero origin drama, a spiritual mystery and a faith-inspired themes of light overcoming darkness. It was published on March 7, 2026. I cannot wait to read the next release of this series. 

5 out of 5 stars.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana is a memoir about journalist Gayle Lemmon's trips to Kabul, Afghanistan looking for stories about women living in war torn countries. Lemmon writes articles for the Financial Times. In this book she centers on Kamila Sidiqi who ran her own business during the reign of the Taliban in the mid 1990s. 

After graduating from a two year teaching program at Sayed Jamaluddin Teacher Training Institute, Kamila heard whispers concerning the Taliban being close to Kabul and would most likely overun Kabul by the next day. Kamila hurried to catch a bus for long bus ride that would take her to her family’s home in the neighborhood of Khair Khana, a northern suburb of Kabul. The Taliban did reach Kabul the next day and Kamila's graduation certificate was no longer useful as the Taliban forbid women from leaving their homes. Kamila's father and brother fled the city before they arrived so she was responsible for taking care of her family. Unable to teach and desperate to support her family, Kamila masters the art of dressmaking and passes on the skills to her younger sisters. In order to find work for the budding business, Kamila frequently makes the dangerous trek to the market and meets with the owners of local dress shops. Soon the business is growing, and Kamila sees an opportunity to help other women in her community. With the help of her sisters, she opens a tailoring school in their home to teach women how to sew and to give them work once they completed their training. At a time of almost insurmountable poverty, she is able to employ nearly one hundred of her friends and neighbors, all the while escaping the scrutiny of the Taliban.

Kamila is an inspiring lady. She makes me look lazy. The author hopes that her book will change the tradition of portraying women as victims of war and pitied. Instead Lemmon believes that they are survivors of war whose bravery and determination held their families and communities together. This is a true story and yet it reads like a novel. I had to check twice to see if this book was historical fiction or a memoir. It’s a memoir. Lemmon made many trips to Kabul over a three-year period to interview women. 

I loved this book. It is an uplifting story of the brave women of Afghanistan who eked out a life under the most horrific circumstances. It gives me hope that I can handle anything that life throws my way. 5 out of 5 stars.

Shiokari Pass

Shiokari Pass is a moving tale of love eclipsed by sacrifice an tragedy. It is based on a true story. I selected the book for the Japanese Reading Challenge 19 and am so glad that I read it. The main character is Nobuo Nagano. After becoming a Christian he finds himself in a bind. He wants to marry his childhood sweetheart, Fujiko, but the marriage conflicts with his newfound faith. Nobuo knows that he should not be unequally yoked with a nonbeliever. Set in Hokkaido at the turn of the nineteenth century, when for the first time Western culture and ideas were beginning to challenge Japan's long-held traditions, Shiokari Pass takes an intriguing look at Japanese life and thought of a hundred years ago. The book was a bestseller in Japan and a successful motion picture as well. Based on the life of a high-ranking railway employee who was revered for his humanitarian deeds, Shiokari Pass offers a revealing glimpse of the long, hard road traveled by Japanese Christians. It was published in 1968 in Japan.

The story opened when Nobuo Nagano was ten years old and his grandmother Tose was complaining about his mother. Nobuo had been told that she died but that was not true. Tose had thrown her out of the family home for becoming Yaso, a Christian. The Nagano family were ardent Buddhists. Nobuo’s best friend was Yoshikawa and we watched them grow up together and remain friends throughout life. This was unusual because the Nagano family were of the samurai class and Yoshikawa was from a lower social class. When Tose passed away Nobuo’s mother Kiku and her daughter Michiko moved to the Nagano house. Both Kiku and Michiko were Yaso. While his father was not a believer he attended church with them every Sunday. Nobuo, however, refused to go. Nobuo had planned to attend college but because his father died, Nobuo decided to forego higher education and obtained a job with the railroad in order to support Kiku and Michiko. At one rail station Nobuo wandered in to a Sunday School class and the rest, as they say, is history.

I enjoyed reading about Nobuo and Yoshikawa's conversations both as youngsters and as adults. They were philosophical even at a young age and thought through what it meant to be human. It was quite interesting to see two young lads discuss such deep topics and heartwarming to see them remain close friends throughout life. I also enjoyed reading about Nobuo’s conversations with his family concerning Yaso. Nobuo’s objections to Yaso were explained in detail. He compared Yaso against the power of Buddha and how Buddha helped him live life. This was his stumbling block. 

Life in Japan one hundred years ago was fascinating to read about. The country was beginning to change due to the influence of Western culture. The manner in which Nobuo and Yoshikawa sailed through life, bending some Japanese rules, was shown. It was an intriguing time to be alive. Yoshikawa remained a Buddhist. However, almost every person Nobuo encountered worshipped Yaso and it caused him to think deeply about whether Buddha matched Yaso's power to transform people. There is also some romance in the story as Nobuo becomes attracted to a few girls but sets his sights on marrying Yoshikawa's disabled sister Fujiko.

The title of the book comes from the place where Nobuo died. I would like to refrain from any additional spoilers in case one of my blog readers wants to read the book. The ending was certainly dramatic. I think the best word to describe this novel is heartwarming. I loved it and believe you will too. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Space Ghost Volume 1, #1

The Space Ghost series began being released in 2024. Volume 1, #1 is a 32 page beginning for the series. The story is about a cosmic vigilante who metes outs justice throughout the galaxy bringing vengeance to those who prey upon the defenseless. He is the Space Ghost. Written for teens, the comic is definitely kid friendly.

The publisher's summary:

Greed and corruption flourish in the darkness between stars. With the territories of the Galactic Federation spread far and wide across the vastness of space, pirates and hijackers ransack the distant colonies with cruel disregard for the innocent scientists living within them. Yet there is a cosmic vigilante who metes out justice throughout the galaxy, bringing vengeance to those prey upon the defenseless. Some say he is a policeman who has abandoned the strictures of the law. Others say he is a phantom, the sole survivor of a war-torn planet. And those who have survived his wrath claim he is more a force of nature, able to bend the very elements of Creation to decimate his enemies. They call him the SPACE GHOST -- and his adventures begin here.

I expected more background information for the first release of a series. The story opened with Jan, Jace and their father Dr. Jerrod Keplar on Space Colony Omicron. Dr. Keplar is frantically trying to get help from the Galactic Patrol because the space station is being overun by pirates. Dr. Keplar rushes to delete everything from his lab's mainframe computer but we never see him again after page 3. I didn't see any drawings that could explain what happened to him either. He was working on a program called BLIP but there was no explanation about the program. It was odd that the rest of release 1 was about Jan and Jace, young kids, trying to get away from the pirates. Obviously all of this is going to be explained in subsequent releases. However, without knowing what the story is about I am not interested in reading any additional releases. 

The story didn't grab my interest. 2.5 out of 5 stars. 

The Twin Sister

I selected The Twin Sister for the Key Word Reading Challenge. This psychological thriller is author Yvette Davies debut novel. Let me tell you right off the bat that this psychological thriller is a must read. The book was published in October 2025 and her second book will be published in 2026.

The story opens with a car crash. The police assume that Cate, Beth's identical twin sister, was inside the car involved in the accident. Cate died along with Cate's husband Giles and two of her three children. However, Beth was in a separate car with Cate's son Ted and Cate's purse was in that car too because Cate was going to be driving in this car. A last minute decision to travel in the car with Giles and her kids put her in the accident. Since Cate was wearing Beth's sweater and had Beth's phone in the sweater pocket, the police thought that Beth had died. Without even thinking, Beth assumed Cate's life. Cate was married to a wealthy man, wore designer clothes and owned a multi-million dollar house. The lifestyle was too good to pass up and after ten years of trying for a baby with husband David, Beth now has the chance to be a mother to her nephew Ted. The mistaken identity creates an opportunity for Beth to have a better life.

Beth's marriage had been in a shambles. She and David had been unhappy and David dealt with it by getting a girlfriend. Interspersed with funeral planning were snippets of Cate and Beth as children as well as David’s life with Adriana. Beth found out that she really didn't know her sister well. Cate too was having an affair with the gardener and had other household help. Beth's biggest issue was assuming Cate's personality. They were very different people but some of Cate's acquaintances figured it all out. 

There's was a lot of action and many twists in the plot. All of them were shocking which, of course, kept me reading. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

5 out of 5 stars.

Cold Zero

Cold Zero is Brad Thor's newest novel. It is not part of Thor's popular Scot Harvath spy series though. Cold Zero is a spy thriller but with new characters. It is also the first collaboration Thor has had with Ward Larsen. 

The publisher's summary:

A vanished plane. An earth-shattering secret. A countdown to World War III. Hemisphere Airlines Flight 777—the most advanced jetliner ever built—disappears without a trace over the North Pole. Crippled by sabotage, it crash-lands on the ice, stranding the surviving passengers in a wasteland of frigid cold and chaos.

The real storm, however, is still coming. Hidden inside the wreckage is the prototype for a revolutionary piece of technology that could upend the balance of world power. Now Washington, Moscow, and Beijing are racing to be the first on scene to retrieve it—at any cost.

Trapped in the middle of the world’s most dangerous flash point are CIA operative Kasey Sheridan and former fighter pilot turned first officer, Brett Sharpe. Hunted by enemy forces, they must spirit both the device and its creator across the ice to safety—before rival superpowers turn the Arctic into a war zone.

With the clock ticking and the temperature dropping, the fate of the free world is about to be decided at the top of the globe.

This exciting novel opened with an autonomous taxi causing mayhem in Hong Kong streets. Chinese scientist Chen Li and CIA officer Kasey Sheridan are escaping from China along with Chen's briefcase and the Sky Fire technology. Chen is not in this taxi though. The Chinese, however, believe he is and are chasing it. During the chase Chen and Sheridan board a private plane in Macau heading towards New York City where Chen plans to defect. It is soon determined that the two boarded a plane set for the U.S. A plan is quickly devised to force the plane to crash, which it did.

The novel has a swift pace. Once I began reading I knew I would have to finish it in one sitting, regardless of earlier plans for the day. I rarely find a thriller as exhilarating as Cold Zero. The authors delivered as promised. The collaboration between them works, which isn't always true of other famous authors and their cohorts. I hope that this novel is the start of a new series. Sheridan, Chen and Sharpe make a great team. While Sharpe was the plane's pilot, his military experience helped in the development of a plan to deal with the crash. I can see Sheridan as the main character in a new series.

The action between the U.S, China and Russia operatives continued to build tension throughout the story. Several times in the plot each of these nations seemed to be winning. The ending, though, was a firefight between China and the U S. For a major part of the story, the chapters alternated between the three nations' activities.  Another factor regarding the tension was the description of the Arctic setting. The cold weather always gave each side problems to solve. 

Cold Zero is one of Brad Thor's best books. I highly recommend it to  thriller fans. 5 out of 5 stars.

Don't Forget Your Briefcase

I received an advanced review copy of Eliot Rahal's Don't Forget Your Briefcase from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This 125 page edition of the political satire collects releases 1 through 5 and will be published on March 17, 2026. It's hilarious.

Elmo, a ten-year-old kid, carries his dead father's briefcase with him to his elementary school every day. After hurting a bully, he is suspended and his mother, a Russian spy working in the White House, takes him to work with her. It is Inauguration Day and as the new president walks toward the Oval Office, he is assassinated. In the commotion Elmo picks up the wrong briefcase. It's the nuclear football with the codes to launch a nuclear strike. The Marines end up with his father's briefcase. Oops. A plan is set in action for the military to get the nuclear football returned back to them. Elmo unwittingly thwarts them over and over. His mother calls her contact at the Kremlin requesting guidance but from here things get worse. . . for both countries.

The comic is a fast read because of both the seriousness of the issue and the incompetence of those who work for both countries. It's told in traditional comic book panels. The drawings are gorgeous and the color palette contains every color in the rainbow. The pictoral depiction of every US president since the 1970s was cute. The story began with Jimmy Carter in the Oval Office instructing a Marine on his duties as the handler of the football. Initially, I thought this would be about Carter but nine other presidents are shown and I guess it's to show readers that someone always carries the football for whoever is president. It's our tradition.

This story is just plain funny. There is some foul language but no sexy drawings. I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars and predict it will be in my top ten books for 2026.

The Fourth Princess

Author Janie Chang writes historical fiction. Many of her novels incorporate stories drawn from her family history and often include elements of fantasy. The Fourth Princess is her sixth book and it is set in 1911 China. The story is Chang's first gothic historical fiction novel and it's about two young women living in a crumbling, once-grand Shanghai mansion. Both face danger as secrets from their pasts come to light, even as the mansion’s own secret threatens the present. It was published on February 10, 2026.

The publisher's summary:

Shanghai, 1911. Lisan Liu is elated when she is hired as secretary to wealthy American Caroline Stanton, the new mistress of Lennox Manor on the outskirts of Shanghai’s International Settlement. However, the Manor has a dark past due to a previous owner’s suicide, and soon Lisan’s childhood nightmares resurface with more intensity and meld with haunted visions of a woman in red. Adding to her unease is the young gardener, Yao, who both entices and disturbs her.

Newly married Caroline looks forward to life in China with her husband, Thomas, away from the shadows of another earlier tragedy. But an unwelcome guest, Andrew Grey, attends her party and claims to know secrets she can’t afford to have exposed. At the same party, the notorious princess Masako Kyo approaches Lisan with questions about the young woman’s family that the orphaned Lisan can’t answer.

As Caroline struggles with Grey’s extortion and Thomas’s mysterious illness, Lisan’s future is upended when she learns the truth about her past, and why her identity has been hidden all these years. All the while, strange incidents accelerate, driving Lisan to doubt her sanity as Lennox Manor seems unwilling to release her until she fulfills demands from beyond the grave. 

This was a riveting novel. The story opens with Lisan traveling to her job interview with Caroline Stanton. She is immediately hired and leaves the home of her benefactor Master Liu to live with the Stantons. She will be working as Caroline Stanton's secretary. Lisan and Caroline hit it off right away and Lisan soon becomes indispensable to the running of the household. 

I'm not gonna lie. I had to Google gothic historical fiction for a definition. Gothic historical fiction blends suspense, atmosphere, and often supernatural elements with rich settings, commonly featuring crumbling old houses, isolated estates, secrets, strong female characters and intense emotional journeys. Lennox Manor fits the bill. It's falling apart after decades of neglect and it is located several miles from the nearest buildings in Shanghai. There is some mental illness in the Stanton family with two prior suicides. The Chinese house staff supplies the story with tales of superstition and fantasy. They frequently post words and pictures near doorways in order to keep ghosts away and there are definitely strong women characters. 

Lisan Liu is the main character and the story is told from her viewpoint. She is liked by everyone who has ever met her. I won't go into detail regarding her family background because it would be a spoiler. Caroline Stanton is also a strong female character, which surprises her husband Thomas and his uncle Mason who is always trying to get his hands on Caroline's fortune to facilitate their entry into a railroad scheme. Mason has told Thomas and Caroline that he is leaving them the house in his will. However, he doesn't actually own the house, a fact Caroline learns from reviewing land records. Master Liu owns it and leases it to Mason. Mason is the cause of all the treachery in the novel. He moves from one scheme to another to force Thomas to take away Caroline's money. Caroline also is guilty of some treachery but to describe it would be a spoiler.

The Fourth Princess is a dynamite novel. Historical fiction fans simply must read it. It's too good to pass up. 5 out of 5 stars.