The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

 Love, love, love Tommy and Tuppence. This is the first of their adventures together, starting just after WWI, both Tommy and Tuppence are at loose ends and short on cash. Meeting up for lunch, they decide to start a partnership called the Young Adventurers. Even as they leave lunch, a man stops Tuppence and asks her to help out with a project. When he asks for her name, she comes up with the first name she can remember, "Jane Finn." It was a name that Tommy had overheard and mentioned. When she says the name, it sends a bolt of electricity through the man and he accuses Tuppence of playing him. This sets off a chain of events that has them meeting up with an American millionaire in search of his cousin, a woman who has been in hiding for over five years, and a group of men who are trying to overthrow the British government.

Five stars
Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries #1

This book came out in 1922

Followed by Partners in Crime

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

The Christmas Bell Mystery by Benedict Brown

Christopher has been in the news quite a bit lately. He's solving crimes with his grandfather and has even solved a case of his own. And he's ready for the next one, although, it would have been okay to wait until after Christmas. Because he's met a girl on his way home. They were alone in a train car and she suddenly started weeping; someone is trying to kill her grandfather. Then she ran off the train leaving her charm bracelet behind. It's up to Christopher to track her down with the scant information he was given. 

When he does, he discovers that her grandfather is the type of man who always ends up dead in a mystery novel. Old, rich, and apt to play his grandchildren against each other. It turns out, however, that her grandfather is not the one to die. Instead, it's a series of others.

Three and a half stars

Lord Edgington Investigates #12

This book came out November 13, 2023

Follows A Killer in the Wings

Followed by The Puzzle of Parham House

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Born in Fire by Nora Roberts

Maggie Concannon is a fiery artist who doesn't want to work for anyone, but Rogan Sweeney is determined to bring the glass artist into his fold. 

The snark between these two has not diminished over the years. It is still as endearing and sharp as when this book was first written. Enjoy it every time I read it. The first in the "Born In" trilogy, it is my favorite.

Four stars
This book came out October 1, 1994

Born in Trilogy #1

Followed by Born in Ice

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge by Kate Khavari

Saffron and Alexander are going to visit her family. Elizabeth is coming with them. They are on their way because Saffron's grandfather is ill, and the man posing as his doctor is none other than Saffron's archnemesis. 

There's a number of potential pitfalls in this trip. Saffron's family doesn't approve of her, neither do Elizabeth's (her family are neighbors). Alexander and Saffron are hopelessly entangled, and this is his first time meeting her family. 

This adventure is going to be no less thrilling or perilous than others in this series. There was a little much going on with Bill Wyatt, and then a medium, and people rushing all over but the story was generally enjoyable. I would definitely start at the beginning of the series for this one. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 10, 2025

Saffron Everleigh Mysteries #4

Follows A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess

Cath's mother died recently. She's not really sure how to feel about it. They were never very close, her mother having dumped Cath at her paternal grandmother's houseand then disappearing. Well, except for the times that she'd show up, get Cath's hopes up, and then disappear again. That's why Cath is so surprised to find two tickets to a "murder week" in England. It seems her mother set it up for them to go together. But why?
Cath can't cancel the tickets and her support team encourages her to go so she does. She's added to a room with William and Amity. William's husband, an avid birder, has sent him on this week. Amity is a widowed romance writer who is currently blocked and hopes that this week will help spark creative juices.

I enjoyed the characters but wish that this book had picked a genre. There was a side romance that wasn't developed well and it cut into the story of the Cath making new friends and discovering more about her mother. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 10, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Gallery Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Heart of the Sea by Nora Roberts

The third in the Gallagher trilogy. I do really enjoy these books although they are starting to get a wee bit dated. Of course, with the way technology changes these days, most books are going to be dated pretty fast and this book actually holds up pretty well. 

Anyway, the last Gallagher sibling, Darcy, just got back from a trip to Paris. She's always wanted to travel and finally gotten just a snippet of her wish. But when she returns, the construction on the addition to her family pub is underway. And she meets the man in charge of the construction, Trevor Magee. He is everything that she has ever wanted in a man, handsome, kind and rich. And that's a big hang up for him. He wants to buy her and tries to... but as much as she talks about wanting money, she really just wants love.

Four and a half stars

Gallaghers of Ardmore #3

This book came out

Follows Tears of the Moon

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

This book was fine but I think it would have been better as an e- or physical book.. I especially enjoyed Burkeman talking about generosity. He said that, in a moment of generosity, you should just do the thing. If you wait for the moment to pass, you might lose your chance.

Three stars
Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinionsa are my own