A Secret Never Told by Shelley Noble

It's June of 1908 and Philomena Amesbery, Countess of Dunbridge, is enjoying the diversions of Coney Island. Well, she should be. But there's a distressing lack of murders or dangerous situations. She hasn't had anything like that since the previous year. But a phone call from the fabulously wealthy Godfrey Bennington recalls her to New York. At last! Adventure!

Except that Godfrey asks her to be his hostess at a party. Is there anything to be on the lookout for? Godfrey says no but he could literally ask any number of women to be his hostess and he has particularly asked her. At least Phil's return to the city reunites her with her butler Preswick and maid Lily. 

On the way to the dinner, two women who were not originally invited, join the group. Dr. Georgina Nash and Rose. While Georgina seems oddly belligerent toward other guests (a smattering of scientists and psychoanalysts with some of whom Georgina has an obvious history), delicate and beautiful Rose seems to not know what is going on.

It is a mystery that once again pulls in Detective Sergeant Atkins into Phil's sphere. And it is interesting to note that one of the doctors has a fill-in secretary who is none other than Phil's Mr. X. Just what exactly is going on?

Four stars 

This book comes out November 23rd, 2021

Follows A Resolution at Midnight

ARC kindly provided by Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal

Jane Ellsworth knows that she's plain, with an overlong nose and a gorgeous sister, and she is, indeed, a spinster but she still has quiet hopes about their neighbor who seems to be impressed by her talents with glamour, the magic that Kowal has introduced into this Austen-era England parallel universe. Unfortunately, it seems like the neighbor might be more interested in her sister. And, being a good Austen-era heroine, Jane is ready to step aside if she needs to, for the sake of her sister. 

But the big news in the neighborhood is that the glamural artist, David Vincent is in town. And Jane is delighted to have the chance to learn more about his craft, but manages to offend him almost immediately. 

I wish we had seen a little bit more of the love story but this book was a fantastic look about how world-building can be done right.

Four stars

This book came out August 3rd, 2010

Followed by Glamour in Glass

Borrowed as hard copy from the library

Opinions are my own

Reread September 2022 as audiobook from Libby

Some Die Eloquent by Catherine Aird

When a rich old lady dies in a mystery, there is often a rush to figure out how she was murdered and by whom. In the case of Miss Beatrice Wansdyke, it comes as surprise that the woman was actually rich. I mean, she was a chemistry teacher in a girls' school, where did the money come from? She had managed her diabetes for years but her autopsy shows that she is distinctly lacking insulin. Plus there's the weird thing that her dog has disappeared as well. 

Inspector Sloan is sort of distracted as his wife is about to give birth and we get a lot of details related to that miraculous happening. But that also takes up a lot of the book leaving less room for Aird to show on page how the mystery actually gets solved. 

An interesting story but maybe a little too short.

Three stars

This book came out in 1979

Follows Parting Breath

Followed by Passing Strange

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Opinions are my own

Tied Up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh, Wanda McCaddon

Agatha Troy is on site, painting a picture of Hilary Bill-Tasman ahead of the holiday season. His family and friends and the local villagers are getting ready for the upcoming Christmas season. There is an eccentric group of people joining them at the manor, Halberds, and that includes the servants who are all reformed murderers. There is Hilary's fiancee, a beautiful woman but maybe not much more than her elegance to add to the depth. Also attending are his (honorary) uncle Bert who likes to keep his low-origins accent on full display even though he has made his fortune as well as Hilary's aunt and uncle, Mrs. and Colonel Forrester, the latter of whom is very deaf and the former who has a tendency of not only talking loud but repeating herself. 

Troy is bemused by the servants and amused by the family. On the night of the big celebration, Forrester has a spell and is unable to play the druid around whom the festivities revolve. The Forrester's manservant, Moult, steps in but then disappears. Hilary works to make sure that Roderick Alleyn is the one called in to the case. What the heck, his wife is already on site.

I liked this one and a lot had to do with the narrator. There are a few red herrings but the clues are fairly obvious and the murderer is easy to guess. This is the best of the Troy/Alleyn relationship though the clues are a bit heavy-handed at points.

Four stars

This book came out in 1972

Follows When in Rome

Followed by Black as He's Painted

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Opinions are my own

Charms & Witchdemeanors by Amanda M. Lee

Once again, it's something in Aunt Tillie's past that is coming to haunt Bay Winchester. This time, Patty Grimes has been poisoned and Mrs. Little has called in the FBI. Normally, that would be fine because Bay would get to see her boyfriend, Landon, but this time a new FBI agent, Noah Grimes, is sent as well. And Noah seems bound and determined to put Tillie behind bars.

Unfortunately, that means that Bay and her cousins are going to have to prove Tillie's innocence. That becomes a problem when more of Mrs. Little's friends start dying.

An interesting story, this one involves Edith, the ghost from the newspaper office. Did all of the pieces fit together neatly? Maybe, maybe not but this is a fun series and they don't really need to in order to enjoy the books.

Four stars

This book came out 

Follows Life's a Witch

Followed by The Trouble with Witches

Borrowed from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

No Words by Meg Cabot

Jo Wright thought that she had had a moment with Will Price but she discovered she was wrong when the best-selling author dissed her (also best-selling) children's series. Now the man responsible for her writer's block is her numero uno enemy. So why would she want to go down to the Keys, more specifically to Little Bridge Island which is close to the man's own private island? Well, a ten thousand dollar writer's speaking fee does help. Plus, it doesn't look like the man himself will be there so she should be safe.

Except that, when she gets to the island, she realizes that the man will be there. In fact, he arrives at the airport at the same time she does. And is greeted by a young woman while she is greeted by a very pregnant librarian (Molly from book 2 in the series.) At first, Jo wants to avoid all of the activities involved with the book festival but her friend Bernie convinces her that it is wiser to attend rather than to let Will drive her off. And, interestingly, in her first interaction with the man, he apologizes (!) Jo is thrown off her game but the more they interact, the more her creative juices start flowing.

Is there a lot of depth in this novel? Actually, a lot in regards to writers (e.g. a discussion on feminist characters in children's literature) but maybe not in Will and Jo's relationship. Is the book still delightful? Oh most definitely. I am so excited that Cabot is starting to recapture the fun and the sense of what is going on in the contemporary world that was a part of the "Boy" series. 

Four stars

This book came out October 12th, 2021

Follows No Offense

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Murder List by Julie Garwood

Regan Madison is a part of the Hamilton family, as in Hamilton hotels. She has a soft heart and a drop-dead-gorgeous exterior. She also has a stalker. While she doesn't recognize it at first, when the realization hits (via a rather graphic photograph of a murdered man that is emailed to her,) she lets the Chicago police know immediately.

Assigned to Regan's case as a punishment for leaving the squad, Alec Buchanan figures at least it's better than answering phones for his last three weeks. What he doesn't expect is to fall in love with this woman. Or that he may have to put his life on the line to protect her. 

I remember liking this book more when it first came out. It is getting pretty dated (one character asks if everyone has started carrying cell phones), and Regan is a little TSTL but still a readable book.

Three stars

This book came out August, 2004

Follows Killjoy

Followed by Slow Burn

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own