Death on the Night Train to Verona by Benedict Brown, narrator: George Blagden

Christopher and Lord Edgington are heading to their next step on their European tour. But the train they are taking to Verona is running late. It seems it has been delayed for one person. And what a person! It's the famous film actress. There are several people on the train who are connected to the actress in various ways, which makes it difficult to discern who might have wanted to kill her. Christopher and his grandfather will have few hours to solve the mystery.

There is a thread through the series of the girl that Christipher saw in the first book now being on the train. He is able to speak to her only briefly before they are interrupted by an older man who may be her father.

Four stars

Lord Edgington Investigates Abroad #2

Follows Murder in an Italian Castle

Followed by The Alpine Christmas Mystery

This book came out September 30, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop by Darci Hannah, Amy Melissa Bentley (Narrator)

I heard about this book from The Cozy Mystery Bookclub. They were so enjoying the story that I decided to pick it up before I heard the ending. I'm glad I read it first but I was a little disappointed in who the murderer ended up being, it didn't feel fairly clued. 

There are definitely some beats which don't read quite cozy. I know that it generally means murder happens off-page but there was also a little more "on page" in this romance than you usual see. 

Three stars

Beacon Bakeshop #1

This book came out February 23, 2021

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Magic We Made by Meg Cabot

Dr. Francesca "Frankie" Giovanni loves living in her small town. She doesn't love summer people (tourists) and she really doesn't like the owner of the house next door, Ash Merit. He bought it from a lovely couple and now it's an AirBnB with Really. Annoying. People. The latest one is asking Franki if she can get rid of the ghost that's in her house. All of the woman's food has been taken, but it obviously wasn't a regular burglary. The Summer Person does leave and Ash comes to town. He's there for two reasons. One to see what is going on in the house and two to find a lost girl for his boss, the one he bought the house for. See, even though Ash has a real job that doesn't really play into this story at all, he's also really, really good at finding things. And this particular girl is just one in a series of missing girls that may actually be linked to the events of the previous book.

It took me a while to get into this book and I'm not sure the third narrator was needed but it was a nice follow up to the first in the series.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out August 11, 2026

Witches of West Harbor #2

Follows Enchanted to Meet You

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager

Opinions are my own

Spy x Family, Vol. 14 by Tatsuya Endo, (translator) Casey Loe

Anya earns both a Stella and a Tonitrus Bolt in her end-of-year exams. Loid decides to ignore the bolt for now and celebrate the Stella by taking a skiing trip. While there, they are involved in a locked room mystery when one of the other occupants of the chalet is almost murdered. I wish that story had been longer but there is a limit to how many strips are in a chapter.

There is also the story of Anya's school having a dance. She tries to get close to the younger Desmond but he is not interested (aka he runs away.)

Finally, we get the story of Henry Henderson, the school's headmaster. It seems he had a past with Becky's chauffer/minder, Martha.

Four stars

Follows Vol. 13

Followed by Vol. 15

This book came out September 4, 2024

Borrowed as hard copy from library
Opinions are my own

Read Your Mind by Oz Pearlman

I hadn't heard of this author before, just enjoy reading books about how to be successful. Coming from a mentalist, it makes sense that most of the habits have to do with working with people. Nothing really ground breaking but an interesting way to experience them, through various tricks that he used in both his magic and mentalist shows. I love hearing about memory tricks, but they don't work for everyone. He trains people on the alphabet backward using a storyline and pnemonic but assumes that people will remember that particular device. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 30, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own 

Spy x Family, Vol. 12 by Tatsuya Endo, translator Casey Loe

Our favorite family is dealing with a world post-Anya's class being kidnapped. Anya has to go back to schoole while Yor and Lloid go back to work. Yor's coworkers are skeptical when she refuses to speak ill of her husband so she creates problems that don't really exist. Meanwhile, Lloid is also dealing with her brother Yuri as both sides race to get to super spy Winston Wheeler before the other. 

Four stars

Follows Vol. 11

Followed by Vol. 13

This book came out October 4, 2023

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Harvest Season by Brynne Weaver

Nolan and Harper are back again. Less killing in this book but they are still having to deal with all of the deaths in the first book. The true crime group who lost two members in the first book are in town trying to figure out what happened to their friends. There was also a big reveal at the end of the last book that is having consequences in this book. Consequences that leave Nolan and Harper at odds at the end of this book.

Three and a half stars

Seasons of Carnage Trilogy #2

Follows by Tourist Season

This book came out June 9, 2026

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own