Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench; Brendan O'Hea

Did you know you needed a book of Judi Dench talking about Shakespeare? I didn't. What a fabulous audiobook has been created here. Brendan O'Hea interviews the icon Dench and it results in what seem to be spontaneous discussions about various plays with sprinkles about her life experiences both off and on stage. It is beyond delightful to hear Dench describe her experiences as various characters. As they talk about each play, describing he remembers quotes from all of the various plays. 
The two seem like old friends who are just having conversations, batting quotes and reminiscences back and forth with a delightful epilogue where they discuss their discussions. 

Four and a half stars

This book comes out April 23, 2024

ARC kindly provided by Macmillan Audio and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

Archie and Clementine grew up together but haven't seen each other for about five years. Still, when her father sends him a letter asking for help, Archie is ready to ride to the rescue. He even drags along his two best friends because they're supposed to be on their annual "Earls Trip" (only two of them are earls, one is an heir.) They seem surprisingly okay with detouring their trip to help rescue Clementine who is hell bent on rescuing her sister, Olive. Then all five trundle off to continue on the earls trip. Without chaperones. To a house that has a bunch of bushes in phallic shapes.

I've only read contemporaries by Jenny Holiday and those a generally fairly fun. This book, though historical, still has those contemporary beats. If I had thought or known to expect an overlay of contemporary banter, ideals, and jargon over a historical setting, I think it would have made the book more enjoyable for me.  

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 23, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths

I didn't think I had read the other books in this series but didn't feel the need to (in going back, I had read book #2 but didn't realize it). Oddly, though there are a few deaths in this book, I would call it a quiet mystery. I'm not sure why but it was just an enjoyable read and mostly reminds me of how Mary Balogh might write a mystery.
Natalka, a younger woman, and Edwin, who is in his eighties, run a detective agency. Natalka does this in addition to running a care agency. They finally get a bigger case when a woman's daughters come in convinced that their mother was killed by her husband.
The woman who died was a writer and their investigations lead them to a writer's retreat which Benedict (Natalka's significant other) and Edwin attend. And that's where the first person dies. Is this death connected to the other writer? That's what they are going to work to find out.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 23, 2024

Harbinder Kaur #4

Follows Bleeding Heart Yard

ARC kindly provided by Mariner Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie

Duncan Kincaid just needs a vacation. He's lucky enough to be able to use a timeshare that his cousin can't take. The other visitors are certainly an interesting bunch: two sisters, one who might be losing her memory, the other who reminds Duncan of particularly strict teacher; a husband and wife who own a health food store and have their two children along; a self-proclaimed "spinster" who seems to be at this time share during this week for a specific purpose; a recently divorced father with his teen daughter; a couple where the husband is a budding politician. For the staff, he heard Cassie and Sebastian arguing when he walked in though the two quickly reverted to their polite masks. 

By the next morning, one of the them is dead. And they're not the last person to die. The local constabulary aren't real excited about him potentially helping (at least not the one in charge.) 

I had heard about this series on the Modern Mrs. Darcy and I am excited to read the next one. 

Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James #1

Four stars

This book came out in 1993

Followed by All Shall Be Well

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Not That Duke by Eloisa James

Lady Stella Corsham is short and freckled, not exactly a diamond of the first water. But she has a large dowry so she doesn't lack for suitors. She mostly tends to play chess with Sylvester Parnell, the Duke of Huntington and hang out with her friends.
Sylvester is in love with the most elegant young woman of the season (and heroine of book 2 in this series). Or so he tells himself. But he has these annoying... feelings... for Stella. Of course, because his mother declares she is the woman for him, he's going to push back against that but he eventually realizes that he would be happiest with Stella. Now he just has to convince her.
I liked that the characters mostly communicated pretty well. Sylvester definitely had some missteps at the end of the book but it was overall an enjoyable read.

Would-Be Wallflowers #3

Four stars

Follows The Reluctant Countess

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Death Comes to Bath by Catherine Lloyd

In the last book, Major Robert Kurland was having some problems with the same leg that has been giving him trouble since Waterloo. His doctor (and family friend) recommends a trip to Bath to attend the healing waters. 

While there (along with Lucy's sister Anna and Penelope Fletcher who insists on coming along), they meet Sir William Benson. He is an irascible old man who seems to like no one in his family but really strikes up a connection with Robert. Of course, he will be the one to die. Robert is one of the first to find him and recognizes that, though he has appeared to have drowned in one of the baths, the man was really murdered.

Then comes a complex mystery including the man's own sons (really only two of the three are focused on), his two stepsons, the wife who looks so much younger than him, and their personal doctor. It's another mystery for Robert and Lucy to solve and they are going to have to solve some number puzzles in order to do it.

Three stars

Kurland St. Mary Mystery #6

This book came out January 28, 2020

Follows Death Comes to the School

Followed by Death Comes to the Nursery

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus Catalog

Opinions are my own

Death Comes to the School by Catherine Lloyd

Lucy and Major Kurland have been married for three years. Recently, Lucy has had some miscarriages and they are both a little tender and walking softly around each other. But that doesn't include the new school teacher. She was hired while Lucy was in her sick bed and she is... really not good. But is she connected to the poison pen letters that people have been receiving? Including one to Lucy herself?

When the teacher is killed in the classroom, no one is really upset but Lucy and Robert still want to know why it happened. Was she the author of the letters? Or was someone else trying to make trouble?

There were a few too many Big Misunderstandings at the end of this book (especially around Robert and a secondary character) but it was still enjoyable to listen to.

Kurland St. Mary Mystery, #5

Three stars

This book came out November 28, 2017

Follows Death Comes to the Fair

Followed by Death Comes to Bath

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own