June 2025 Monthly Rereads

 Opinions are always my own

Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown

Lord Edgington Investigates #1

Four stars
This book came out March 1, 2021

Followed by A Body at a Boarding School

Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan

This book came out June 7th, 2022

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opposite of You by Rachel Higgins

This book came out March 30, 2017

Opposites Attract #1

Followed by The Differences Between Us

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

The Differences Between Us by Rachel Higgins

Two and a half stars

This book came out June 25, 2017

Opposites Attract #2

Follows The Opposite of You

Followed by The Problem with Him

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

The Cruise Club by Caroline James

Carmen decides to take a chance. She's a writer who is currently blocked. She's also brow-beaten by her mother. But a flier for a cruise gives her a chance at getting out of her humdrum life and meeting her own favorite author, Ruskin Reeves. Her mother finds out and immediately books the cabin next door. Luckily for Carmen though, she meets a group of peope on board (all of whom we get to know through third person omniscence) who help her grow out of her shell. 
I generally enjoyed the book but some of it was a bit more than my suspension of disbelief could bear. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out on July 3, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Avon Books UK and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Puzzle of Parham House by Benedict Brown

Christopher's normally imperturbable mother is... perturbed. A letter from an old friend has come asking for help. Not from Christopher or his grandfather, but from his mother. We've seen in previous books that she is no slouch when it comes to solving mysteries. But it wouldn't be a Lord Edgington book without the man himself. He invites himself along. And brings his servants. And Delilah. Christopher had already offered to help as well. So the whole troupe moves over to an estate not actually that far away. 

It's there that Alicia Pearson and her husband are restoring a Jacobean house. There are strange things happening though like small objects being moved around. It's hard to tell who it might be between all of the workers and the archaeologists. 

It will be up to Christopher to push, prod, and cajole his grandfather into solving the mystery. Until now, we've seen Lord Edgington as an immutable force, almost all knowing. This book brings him, quite suddenly, back to the land of the humans. 

Three and a half  stars

Lord Edgington Investigates #13

This book came out April 21, 2024

Follows The Christmas Bell Mystery

Followed by Death at Silent Pool

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Death of a Hollow Man by Caroline Graham with John Hopkins (Narrator)

Death comes to Chief Inspector Barnaby's own backyard when a very public murder occurs on the stage of the  Causton Amateur Dramatic Society's version of Amadeus. In this case, Barnaby knows the players. His wife is part of the company and he has spent time with all of the actors when he's helped out painting scenery. 

I love books that have strong character development and this one sure does. The murder doesn't even happen until well into the book and isn't the person that you might normally expect.

Four stars

Chief Inspector Barnaby #2

This book came out 

Follows Killings at Badger's Drift

Followed by Death in Disguise

Audiobook of mine in Audible

Opinions are my own

Fudge Frosting Murder by Daniel Carson

Delaney is the owner of the Baking School Bakery, which is just what it sounds like. It sounds like this may be a spin-off of another series because she refers often to helping Honey solve a murder and the sherriff actually asks for her help when a man is murdered in town. 

Since there are a lot of characters, there are a lot of suspects, including a man Delaney can't even believe it of, to the point that she saves information that she doesn't share ewith the sherriff. 

There are.... a lot of characters. I stopped writing names down after 8. And there is a lot of exposition when each character is introduced. 

Three stars

This book came out October 12, 2023

Baking School Mystery #1 

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman

Isabelle Deavor was killed some months ago, ostensibly by a burglar. She was not supposed to be home that evening and the police were sure she wasn’t the target. This case has been reopened after Sara Bernhardt, the famous actress, got a blackmail note basically accusing her of the murder. She wants the case reopened and that task has fallen to Inspector Cadieux. He, in turn, has come to his friends George and Frances. They are not police so they can turn over stones and go places the inspector would not be able to.

While working through this mystery, we get to see more of Frances's mother and her mellowing. There is also a look into the reasons why women of that age would be married and the reasons that marriage were so very fraught. 

Four stars

This book comes out June 24, 2025

Countess of Harleigh #8

Follows An Art Lovers Guide to Paris and Murder

ARC kindly provided by Kensington and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Spirit Moves by Carol J. Perry

Maureen Doherty is trying to find a reason to get tourists to Haven (and thus to her inn). She thinks she might have found a perfect hook. Now she just has to solve that pesky murder so people might actually come. 

Aster Paterson, the bookshop owner, is the one who finds the body of the dead "how to" writer. While nobody is really sad that Terry's gone, they're sort of shocked he's been murdered. And there are even more surprises when Aster's dead husband, Peter, starts appearing around town. 

Of course, Maureen knows from ghosts but none of her dead friends seem to know anything about Peter so she's on guard. As if her life isn't complicated enought with her boyfriend Theo making it very obvious that he's about to propose.

This book didn't come together for me quite as well as previous books in the series. It was a fun romp but didn't feel as tightly written. 

Three stars

This book comes out June 25, 2024

Haunted Haven #4

Follows Haunting License

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Killings at Badger's Drift by Caroline Graham with John Hopkins (narrator)

Chief Inspector Barnaby is called in when a woman in her eighties believes that her lifelong friend has been murdered. The local coroner believes she died of natural circumstances but her friend doesn't believe it for a moment. When Barnaby goes to look, he finds some clues that concern him as well. This one request draws both the Chief Inspector and his sargeant, Troy, into village life which is richer and much more disturbing that people might otherwise assume. 

I love the television series and am impressed with how well they stuck to the general story of the book but being able to adapt it for another medium, one that ended up being much longer than the original eight books. 

Four stars

This book came out November 5, 1987

Chief Inspector Barnaby #1

Followed by Death of a Hollow Man

Audiobook of mine in Audible

Opinions are my own

The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

This was a very interesting story wherein Hercule Poirot helps a young detective find the reason why three people were murdered in a hotel. And why all three had cufflinks left in their mouths.It was an okay story but it was not a Hercule Poirot story. It felt like the characteristics were just shoehorned in. If it hadn't been a "Poirot book," I think it would have been more enjoyable to me.

I reread this book but this time listened to it. It's interesting that the narrator really brought Hercule into focus for me. I still don't think this was done in the Agatha Christie style and this really could be any other detective, but hearing the voice and the accent brought it a little closer to what I had been hoping for.

Three stars

New Hercule Poirot Mysteries #1

This book came out September 9, 2014

Followed by Closed Casket

Borrowed as audiobook from Blackstone

Opinions are my own

Partners in Crime by Agatha Christie

I love Tommy and Tuppence. I think that's actually how I started my review for "The Secret Adversary." But they are just so much fun. In this book, the not-so-newlyweds, well, Tuppence, is bemoaning how boring life has become. Luckily, their old boss walks in and asks if they would like to help catch some spies. What follows is a series of short stories, some having to do with the spies, some not. All fun. There's even the added enjoyment of Tommy and Tuppence pretending to be classic detectives along the way.

Five stars
Tommy and Tuppence Mysteries #2

This book came out in 1927

Follows The Secret Adversary

Followed by N or M

Audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts

Jude has recently upended her life, quitting her job as a professor and leaving Chicago to travel to Ireland, the home of her maternal grandmother. She's not sure why she's leaving, just that she is unsatisfied with her life and wants to find something more.

She meets with ghosts and Gallaghers and learns that there is sometimes more to life than being merely content.

Four stars

Gallaghers of Ardmore #1

This book came out November 1, 1999

Followed by Tears of the Moon

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

This book is ancillary to a series but I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not having read previous books. Mrs. Blossom, Muriel, was an assistant to an investigator, but now she's about to have an investigation of her own. 

Muriel's life has turned upside down a few times recently; her husband died, the family (grandchildren) moved to Japan and left her behind, and she won the lottery. It's the last that allows her to take a fancy vacation in Europe. 

On the way, she meets Allan. He seems attracted to her and, while she's shy to believe it, she is willing to vary her journey plans to stay with him. Unfortunately, the romance doesn't last long and she's back on track for the travel plans she was given. There's a young man (forties), Danny, who is following her. But his story keeps changing as to why. 

Lippman explains that, in the previous books, she was accused of fatphobia based on how she described and treated Muriel. This book is... maybe bettter? She had sensitivity readers but I'm not sure how much she listened to their reviews. There's still a lot of focus on Muriel's frame. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 17, 2025

ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan

Mia Crawford is on an enforced vacation. She's been at her financial planning firm for five years and, as a an anniversary present, she's on a ferry to a private island in the Carribean. She tried to get the cash equivalent but was roundly dismissed. She's a little wary because she'd rather read a book than have a grand adventure. 

The resort is an interesting place. It's owned by a reclusive billionaire. It's also the site of a recent disappearance, a woman who was at the resort left the island on a day trip but never returned. Mia is connected to this woman when she picks up a book from the take a book/leave a book pile at the resort and it is filled with handwritten notes that directly relate to other guests on the island.

Though Mia is used to being on her own, she befriends the daughter of one of the other guests. She also starts spending time with the handsome bartender Jason. But both relationships may pull her into danger.

Overall a lovely story though my suspension of disbelief was pulled pretty taut several times. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 17, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Novel Murder by E. C. Nevin

Though the book follows various characters in third person present omniscient, we mainly stick with Jane Hepburn. She's a mystery author. Or, at least she's trying to be. Neither her agent nor her editor have gotten in touch with her lately. And, of all indignities, Jane's name isn't on the list of authors at the book festival she's attending. She ends up having to buy her own ticket in. 

Once there, she starts talking with Abi Edwards, her agent's assistant. But Abi soon runs off and Jane is left to her own devices. Somewhat out of character, she decides to sneak into the book tent so she can move all of her books into a more prominent position. It hasn't worked in the book stores she's tried so far but maybe this will help. Instead, she gets tossed into a real life murder mystery when she discovers the dead body of her agent.

Thought we never see the agent on page, we are given a lot of information like the fact that she was not well liked by any number of people so it may be hard to narrow down the suspects.

Jane finds herself in an interesting position - working with friends to solve the murder. She, in fact, actively hinders the investigation a couple of times which is not a favorite trope of mine. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out June 17, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor as well as NetGalley

Opinions are your own

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

Elinor Carlisle has it all. Or she's going to. She's the apparent heir to her wealthy aunt and she has a fabulous fiance. But, Roddy isn't acting like he used to and Elinor knows why. It's Mary Gerrard. And Elinor's ready to commit murder. But does she?

Yes, her aunt dies suspiciously and then there's another death. Elinor's in the docket and her aunt's doctor is begging Poirot to take on the case. And this is a case that only Poirot can solve. 

Three stars

Hercule Poirot #22

This book came out March 1, 1940

Follows
Hercule Poirot's Christmas

Followed by One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

People Pleaser by Jinger Duggar Vuolo

I picked up this book because I was generally curious about what life after a cult is like. I didn't realize this was a second book until I was a good way into the book. So I kept going. Vuolo has a pleasing voice and a deft way of weaving together her life stories (in both the near and far past), biblical passages, and lessons learned. She discusses how and why we are people pleasers and when that's a good thing. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 14, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Bloodied Ivy by Robert Goldsborough with L.J. Ganser (Narrator)

Walter Willis Courtland, a balding man in his 50s, calls the house. His friend, Hale Markham, fell into a gorge. To be fair, it was nighttime and the man was in his 70s. But, by all accounts, he was a hiker and knew the terrain really well. Wolfe isn't interested. But the case piques Archie's interest. Markham was a right-wing author and professor who had a number of devoted fans but just as many enemies. So Archie goes up to investigate, against Wolfe's wishes. 

Another good addition to the Wolfe series by Mr. Goldsborough. 

Four stars

Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe Mysteries #3

This book came out in 1987

Follows Death on Deadline

Followed by The Last Coincidence

Borrowed as audiobook from Blackstone Audio

Opinions are my own

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

The Twelve Days of Murder by Andreina Cordani

An homage to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," this book covers a group of seven friends twelve years after the disappearance of their eighth. In university, they were a group who created and enacted murder mystery dinners. Most of them had money so they could go over the top. But one Christmas, the murder became a little too real. At least, most of them think so. They're not entirely sure since a body never turned up. Now, one of their team is trying to get the band back together. 

Charley always felt left out since she was "the poor one," the one accused of stealing a necklace. She's not sure that she wants to go but she's offered money. And since becoming an actress hasn't exactly worked out for her, she's willing to go. This money will let her break up with her boyfriend and get out. So, now she's on her way to Scotland. And we follow Charley's third person point of view through the present day with third person omniscient for the flash backs. 

The story was a little basic and the ending came a bit out of nowhere but, once I got into it, I ran through the ending. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out November 7, 2023

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopa

Opinions are my own

Elizabeth Sails by Kristin Owens

Beth Schiff rarely leaves her New York city apartment, preferring to stay inside and complete the ghostwriting she does for politicians. She's working with her therapist on correcting some mental health issues that she's struggling with. All of that comes to a head when her great aunt dies and Beth is suddenly on the hunt for a missing will. If she doesn't, her hideously entitled step cousin will inherit millions of dollars rather than a number of deserving charities. 

She's suddenly having to rush to get her cat taken care of and some good clothes because her aunt was on a luxury cruise ship when she died. Once aboard, she meets a group of characters. She also discovers that the hidden will might be more planned than she originally believed.

This is a very fast and fluffy book. There are mentions of mental health but I felt that it was very hand-wav-y in Beth feeling "better." 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 8, 2024

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Tears of the Moon by Nora Roberts

This second in the series focuses on Sean and Brenna. Sean is a cook and a composer, Brenna is by way of being a handywoman fixing cars and ovens in this book as well as building a nursery and remodeling a hotel. They've known each other forever but have always held themselves back as being "just friends." Well, Brenna's tired of that and she wants a fling to get these inconvenient feelings out of the way. Sean is shocked at first but then realizes that this could be a good thing... until he falls in love. Some misunderstandings occur (her younger sister thinks she's in love with Sean, Sean is pissed that Brenna sends off some of his music to a producer) but they get together in the end thus helping along the second of the three hearts that must be joined in order for Carrick, the fairy prince, and Lady Gwen, a ghost, to be together again.

Three and a half stars

Gallaghers of Ardmore #2

This book came out January 1, 2000
Follows Jewels of the Sun

Followed by Heart of the Sea

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle

Leona Griffin used to be a para-archaeologist. Now, she verifies antiquities. That's the reason she's here to night, at the Society's new member ball. She's going to verify that the offerings people bring are authentic. She's distracted by two things: the first being a man that keeps looking at her but no one else seems to notice, the second is a dustbunny that seems to want her help. 

It is the strange man, Oliver Rancourt, who helps her when the evening starts to fall apart. First, as she is verifying antiquities on stage, she's put to a test, second, one of the antiquities is an artifact known as Pandora's box which the host seems overly eager for her to open, then there's the raid, and the dead body. Overall, not a very good night. 

The two make it out but it's just the beginning of their journey. Soon, Leona is joining Oliver in heading to a small town, Lost Creek. It seems to keep coming up in his investigations and also seems to be attached to the night at the Society. 

This story was fine. I spent a lot of time trying to remember who characters were from previous books in the series. I think new readers would have fewere issues because there is some linking information but not enough to be helpful. There is also sort of an abrupt bridge from the beginning of the story to the end. I'm not sure why Leona would have gone to a small town with a man she just met even for a mysterious stone. There are bookish "reasons" but I was mostly thinking "you're willingly going to a secondary location." 

Three stars

Ghost Hunters #17

This book comes out June 3, 2025

Follows People in Glass Houses

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Mystery of Watermead Manor by Jay Gill

Gerald and Ida Langley have just gotten married and people are gathering at Watermead Manor to celebrate. This is a fairy tale match with the handsome young millionaire marrying the gorgeous young lady. The whirlwind romance is not celebrated by everyone at the manor but Henry Fleming is delighted to have been invited. He's a bit late, finishing up another case. When he arrives, almost everyone is happy to be there. Some of the unhappiness leaks out into the form of a poisoning and Henry is soon on another case. 

Three stars

Henry Fleming Investigates, #1

This book came out June 1, 2023

Follows Murder in Fulbridge Village

Followed by The Mystery of Watermead Manor

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible

Opinions are my own

Death and Dinuguan by Mia P. Manansala

stars

This book comes out November 25, 2025

Tita Rosie's Kitchen Mystery #6

Follows Guilt and Ginataan

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell with narrators Kristin Atherton, Louise Brealey, and more

Josie is turning 45. She's out to dinner with her husband but her eye is caught by another group. It looks like someone else is celebrating their birthday on the same day. When they run into each other in the bathroom, it turns out that, not only do Alix and Josie share a birthday, they are turning the same age. Josie does a little exploring and discovers that Alix is a moderately successful podcaster. Her series on successful women has just wrapped up and Josie has an idea. What about a series about women who are in the process of making their lives better? Of course, Josie would make a perfect focus. 

When Alix agrees, it sets off a series of events that leads to both women's lives imploding.

It was an interesting read but I never felt fully invested in the characters so I never got fully immersed in the book.

Three stars

This book came out July 20, 2023

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own