The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene, narrator Laura Linney

Seventy years later, this book holds up amazingly well. Of course, this is the series that was updated after it was found that the original series was a little, um, dated, especially in regard to the overtly racist overtones. This wasn't the first Nancy Drew book I read, but it's remains one of my favorites.

Nancy sees a young girl run into the road and almost get hit by a bus. Meeting the girl's great aunts sets her on the path of solving the mystery of a missing will. Interestingly, it's almost as much to spite the Topham sisters as it is to help a number of people that Nancy gets involved.

Four stars

Nancy Drew #1

This book came out in 1930

Followed by The Hidden Staircase

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

I read a few of the books in this series soon after the TV show came out but couldn't remember why I had stopped. I think that there is not quite the same sense of fun in the books. There are some funny parts, just a different humor. For this book, there were also a lot of, "I'm not going to make it" moments. A. Lot. 

But this is the book that introduces the readers to Harry Dresden, a wizard in contemporary Chicago. Technology and magic don't work well together so he's not exactly up to date with the latest trends but he muddles along as best he can. He's also trying to make a living. So when two dead bodies turn up with their hearts ripped out, Harry is on the case. 

Three stars

The Dresden Files #1 

This book came out April 1, 2000

Followed by Fool Moon

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Stay for a Spell by Amy Coombe

Tanadelle "Tandy" de Courcy is a bona fide princess. And, while she knows that many people would LOVE to be a princess, she's not fond of traveling thirty weeks a year. It becomes repetitive. And boring. And she has to follow a lot of rules. But at least she can keep reading. So, when she's cursed by a bookseller and is unable to leave a bookshop, it doesn't seem the worst thing. 

Her parents are trying everything they can to undo the spell, including sending seven princes to kiss Tandy. And meeting each of the princes is a delight. At least for the reader. Tandy, meanwhile, is enjoying not having to do her royal duties.

A quite lovely book. It reminded me of Legends and Lattes with a charming world that was just a little sweet. 

Four  stars

This book comes out April 14, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Pomona Afton Can Totally Catch a Killer by Bellamy Rose

 stars

Pomona Afton #1
This book comes out April 14, 2026

Follows Pomona Afton Can So Solve a Murder

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander

I read the previous book in this series eleven years ago but was recently reminded that the Lady Emily series was one that I had enjoyed so I picked the series back up. I had forgotten about the alternating timelines... not one of my favorite plot devices. 

Emily has been summoned to Italy by her best frenemy, Emma. There is no love lost between them but Emma's father-in-law has been murdered, her husband has disappeared. Emily's husband is well known as an investigator and Emily is becoming no slouch herself. 

This murder is entwined with a romance from the 1500s and a family feud that is still ongoing. 

Three and a half stars

Lady Emily #7

This book came out 

Follows A Crimson Warning

Followed by Behind the Shattered Glass

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Hexes Go Well with Tequila by LeAnna Ehrsam

This book felt like a cozy fiction book with a random sex scene thrown in for... reasons?

Ursula Cambridge's relationship is failing. When a mysterious invitation appears, she decides to take up the offer to live in The Lost Souls House. Pretty quickly, she makes friends. One night, they get drunk on margaritas and decide to "hex" the people that have wronged them. Except that the hexes turn out to be real. 

There are also a number of sub-plots with a grumpy bachelor and his wayward niece, a friend of a friend who is running for mayor, and the man who is running against her on "family values" who is, not surprisingly, someone who doesn't hold those same values to himself. 

Three stars

The Lost Souls #1

This book came out September 24, 2024

Followed by Curses Dance with Bourbon

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Invisible Influence by Jonah Berger, Keith Nobbs (Narrator)

I think more people are going to be aware of some of the ideas behind this book, especially after Meryl Streep's speech in The Devil Wears Prada about why Anne Hathaway is wearing her sweater. Berger studied the reasons that we make decisions. This is a very Western-centered (especially American) look at how we make choices whether it's the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, or the beer we order. He also looks at how certain styles and colors cycle in and out of popularity. 

Three stars

This book came out Jun 14, 2016

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own