Do You See What I See? by Peter Swanson

Nicholas, our first person narrator, had some success with his first novel, a dip after his second, and was not renewed by his publishing company for a third. Marco Tavares, on the other hand, his third book hit the New York Times best seller list and stayed for eighteen months. There's even going to be a major motion picture. 

The problem is with his follow up book. Linda, the agent for both men, summon Nicholas to New York, he's not sure what to expect. It certainly isn't that Linda wants him to go to the Cape for Christmas. It seems like Marco has the idea for his next book. And the book is mostly written. He just needs some help sorting it all out. And that's where Nicholas comes in. He's a bona fide orphan so it's not like he's going elsewhere for Christmas. Of course, he ends up taking the commission or there wouldn't be a story. 

So. Nicholas is going to the Cape for Christmas. Along with Marco, his wife, Maeve, Marco's sister, Cat, and the grandmother who raised them, Louisa. Also there are a best friend that Marco makes fun of, his ex-girlfriend and her husband, and a man who claims Marco stole his idea for the bestselling novel. It is a scene ripe for a murder. Even the characters comment on in it.
In three stories, Nicholas slowly unfolds more and more of the true story. We don't ever really learn what happened, but Swanson gives a satisfying conclusion to a book that says 128 pages in Netgalley but showed 87 in my ereader. It is truly impressive what our author unfolds in this tight of a story and I enjoyed it completely. 

Four and a half stars

This book came out October 6, 2026

ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley; Agatha Christie

If you're looking for a faithful furtherance of the Marple mysteries, this is not going to be the book for you. This is more in the spirit of Miss Marple than a true sequel. First, there are alternating viewpoints. Second, Miss Marple is a little harder than I remember her being. Although there are glimpses of a bit of coldness in her (e.g., Nemesis), she is usually depicted as a slightly fluttery old woman with more insight than it might appear at first. 

Mrs. Bantry came into some money. She sold the family home after Colonel Bantry died and now is on a once-in-a-lifetime trip with Miss Marple. Mrs. Bantry has also brought her personal assistant, Diana Glass.  Also at the famed Grand Alpine Hotel are a politician and his much-put-upon wife, his movie star mistress, and and old acquaintance who can't rightly be called a friend. Of course, the politician has a murky past as well as an unpleasant present, so he'll be the one who ends up dead. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 22, 2026

(Loosely) Follows Miss Marple's Final Cases

ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Our Marriage Is Murder by Carol Goodman

After twenty years and as many co-written mystery novels, Thea is ready to get out. Both out of her marriage and out of writing. The convention they're traveling to will be their last. But that doesn't mean she wants their lives to end. And there are an awful lot of people dying at the beautiful Casstelarosa. Suspiciously dying in the ways and order that Thea and her husband put in their first mystery. 

The local inspector seems inordinately suspicious of Thea so she's going to have to some sleuthing on her own to try and figure out what is going on.

I appreciated that Thea didn't immediately become a super sleuth just because she was a mystery writer. Parts of the plot were a little heavy handed for my tastes and Thea was a little too self-righteous. Overall, I finished the book and enjoyed the ties to Agatha Christie. I also really enjoyed Goodman's characterizations of fervent book fans and laughed out loud over a line about not crossing book club ladies. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out July 21, 2026

ARC kindly provided as ebook by William Morrow and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Primrose Murder Society by Stacy Hackney

Lily's life hasn't exactly been easy lately. Her daughter, Bea, is acting up (understandably) after Lily's husband embezzled millions of dollars and then left them in the lurch. They lost their home (feds took it) and Bea has been kicked out of her private school. Lily has had to take her mother's boyfriend's offer of cleaning out his mother's apartment. At least they have someplace to live, even though Lily still needs a job. 

The Primrose apartments are the most posh in town, but, while Lily is slightly intimidated by the wealth, Bea is mostly obsessed with a murder that happened there almost twenty years ago. A resident dies and leaves behind a will that will give two million dollars to whoever can give information leading to the arrest of the person who killed his granddaughter. Bea, an inveterate Murder She Wrote watcher is all in. Lily is much more hesitant but is willing to go along because this is the only thing bringing Bea joy right now. 

The mystery comes together pretty nicely although the final solution was a bit out there. The two main characters are fairly fleshed out but there is room for growth which will be fun to watch if the series continues. 

Four stars

The Primrose Murder Society #1

Followed by The Primrose Murder Academy

This book comes out March 3, 2026

ARC kindly provided by William Morrow and NetGalley

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