Murder on a Moon Trek by Diane Vallere

Sylvia Stryker has a Plunian mother and human father. Her family business is ice mining but she longs to be a part of the Intergalatic Cruise Ship Security team. Perhaps sneaking on board a ship and posing as the uniform lieutenant is not the way to do that but it's a way she can get on board ship. She just has to lay low. 

Too bad practically the first thing she does is discover a dead body which brings her right into the focus on the ship's Head of Security. Then she discovers two of the ship's crew passed out. What is going on on this ship? Neptune, the Security Head seems to believe her but still puts her in a cell. 

There is a lot going on in a relatively short book which introduces not only a number of characters, but a whole world. That means the end is a little rushed but I'd like to at least read the next book to see how the series builds. 

Three and a half stars

Sylvia Stryker Space Mystery #1

This book came out December 17, 2017 (reissued February 5, 2026)

Followed by Scandal on a Moon Trek

ARC kindly provided by Polyester Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler

Davi and her team are back. They are trying to have the humans and the wilders join forces. To do that, she and Tsav have donned disguises. Davi isn't sure how she's going to convince her erstwhile lover (not in this time loop) to join her cause, but she knows him inside and out. Or does she?

This Prince Johann is not only married, he seems to be in love. And the running of the kingdom is being left up to Duke Aster who is... less than receptive to Davi's overtures. Even though she has the super-good plan of pretending to be the new oracle. 

Everything is in shambles and there are enemies not only surrounding her, but coming from inside the camp. And an ancient evil is rising once again. 

A fun story that lagged a little in parts but was overall an enjoyable read. 

Four stars

Dark Lord Davi #2

This book comes out May 27, 2025

Follows How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying

ARC kindly provided by Orbit Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

And the Crowd Went Wild by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Dancy Flynn is a movie star, mostly known for being married to an even more famous movie star. At least, she was, until he dumped her for a younger model. It's just too bad that she drinks too much one night in a very public place. In the same public place her husband's new wife has just debuted her very pregnant belly. It is...  a debacle.

So Dancy make her way to a cabin. Her ex-boyfriend's cabin. Her HIGH SCHOOL ex-boyfriend's cabin. I mean, it's a very nice place to stay on the lake. It just doesn't help that her ex is Chicago Star's quarterback Clint Garrett. 

This one had a little too much drama for me and the ending was a little fast but it follows the Phillips formula and regular readers will enjoy.

Three and a half stars
Chicago Stars #12

This book comes out February 10, 2026

Follows Simply the Best

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Final Problem by Arturo Perez-Reverte

I didn't even realize that this book, another in the genre of actors who played detectives now becoming the detective, had been translated from another language. There was a bit of formality in some of the writing but I thought it fit with the personality of our first person narrator, an aging former movie star who is (mostly) philosophically "retiring" from acting. In his prime, "Hopalong Basil" (as named by an early agent) was in any number of films but is generally recognized now as The Definitive Sherlock Holmes of his time.

It is those movies that will become very helpful when, stranded on an island with a number of other people, Hoppy takes on the role of lead detective when a murder is committed. But why here and why this person? Everyone on the island is hypothetically strangers, caught by a random storm. Then another death occurs and the tension is ratcheted up.

I have somehow picked up a number of books that are written in the style of a Golden Age mystery. This definitely succeeds. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out February 10, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Stolen in Death by J. D. Robb

Nathan Barrister, by all accounts a pretty nice guy despite growing up with a wealthy, entitled father, is found dead, bludgeoned in his own home. Nearby, a door opens into a vault that no one in the family knew existed. It turns out Nathan's father bought a number of stolen art items and hid them in the house. No one knew about them. Well, someone knew about them because Nathan is dead and an expensive item is missing. According to the log they find in the room, there is only one item missing. An item that Roarke knows well...

Eve and her team need to solve the murder, try to recover the missing item, and finally deal with a foe who has been haunting her since early in the series.

Robb's books have a familiar cadence without being exactly duplicative. In this book, we don't know who the killer(s) are at first but get to know the players before the truth is finally revealed. 

Four stars

This book comes out September 2, 2025

In Death #61

Follows Framed in Death

Followed by Fury in Death

Ebook ARC kindly provided by St. Martin's Press and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Murder, Hijinks, and the Peridot Cufflinks by Lynn Rankin-Esquer

A year ago, Izzy Bishop had a near-death experience that super charged her already average sense of others. In the last book, she finally accepted that she might have some psychic abilities. Now, she's fully embraced the idea but is trying to figure out how to wield it well. Her first sense  of the book almost breaks a couple up. Then she senses something mysterious about one of the organizing client's significant other. This particular client was a sports star who has a LOT of money. When she touches a pair of cufflinks in his closet, she gets a vision of violent death. The person who died? Her archenemy Shania's elderly husband. Ufda. Is Izzy somehow going to be accused of his murder? Yes. Is she going to get another love interest thus cementing my feelings about how similar this series is to reading Stephanie Plum? Yes. Did I still finish the book? Yes.  

Three stars

Order Out of Chaos #2

Follows Murder, Mess, and the Tangerine Dress

ARC kindly provided as ebook by XandL Press and Netgalley

Opinions are my own

The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz

There has been a Harper-Wells feud for generations. Krentz tells us that quite a bit in this book. But that feud seems to have been broken by Sophy's aunt, Bea, and Luke Well's uncle, Deke. And the two have discovered that because Bea and Deke have disappeared.

Luke is in line to inherit his family's company specifically because he has no psychic talent. At least, that's what everyone thinks. However, he is unusually good at pulling data together and coming to conclusions. Most often, this happens when he dreams. He's come to the conclusion that he needs help because he needs someone who can read crime scenes.

Bea is a librarian. She also reads crime scenes and can clear bad energy from a space. In the recent past, she's also had a series of failed experiments, men who have seen her work and then run away. One even called her a succubus.

Of course, these two are going to fit together and they'll figure that out in the three days this book covers. If you enjoy Krentz, I think you'll like this book. 

Four stars

This book comes out January 6, 2026

Loosely connected to the Fogg Lake books
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Waffle Lot of Love! by Ben Clanton

It's time for Narwhal and Jelly to go on an epic friend adventure. If only Jelly can get Narwhale to pay attention for more than two minutes. We get to see a lot of sea life on the floor and how other friends are celebrating each other. I feel pretty bad for Jelly but I guess they end up okay. 

Three and a half stars
This book comes out December 30, 2025

Narwhal & Jelly #10
Follows Narwhal's Sweet Tooth

ARC kindly provided by Tundra Book Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Audrey Lane Stirs the Pot by Alexis Hall

Though they've been broken up for quite awhile, Audrey Lane still hears the voice her ex-girlfriend berating her for most of her decisions. But she goes on the baking show in Britain anyway. And comes right up against Jennifer Hallett, the producer. It starts when Audrey asks for help for the contestant who is over ninety. She, quite rightly, would prefer that Doris not have to walk up a giant hill to get back to the hotel after a full day of baking. Jennifer just wants her show to work; she's (at least on the outside) more concerned 

I don't remember this from the other books in the series but this book includes some time hopping and a switch to a first person point of view by someone who isn't the main character. And, while that story is kind of lovely and helps Audrey grow, I wish we had seen more of the two characters growing together. 

Three and a half stars

Winner Bakes All #3

This book came out December 9, 2025

Follows Paris Daillencourt is about to Crumble

ARC kindly provided as ebook by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Murder at Cottonwood Creek by Clara McKenna

Lyndy and Stella are on a trip to Montana. Both her mother and stepfamily as well as his father are there. Except that his father is not. He disappeared a few days earlier and no one knows where he went. And that's not the last untoward thing that happens on their visit, including death. 

We get to see a little bit more about both Lyndy and Stella but there is a lot of focus on the "B" characters. I didn't love the solution to the mystery either; it didn't make a lot of sense based on what we saw on the page. 

Three stars

This book came out November 25, 2025

A Stella and Lyndy Mystery #7

Follows Murder on Glenloch Hill

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Death and Dinuguan by Mia P. Manansala

There have bee n a series of burglaries in town, all have occurred at women-owned businesses. Then one of the burglaries ends in one death and one woman in a coma, someone who is very close to Jae. 

This is a regular in the series though I do not think you need to have read the rest of the books to enjoy this one. The author's note markd this as the final book in the series which would be sad, but there are some possibilities to continue further if Manansala changes her mind in the future.

Three and a half 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

Phineas and Ferb's A-MAZE-ing Creature Double Feature by The Disney Comics Group; Scott Peterson; Joshua Pruett

Whoever writes the comics has a fine understanding and love of the show. This time, there are two stories. One where Doof isn’t the villain (surprise). Instead, it is a group of scientists who dump a space chemical into the river and it starts making giant spiders and frogs and platypi. Does it make any sense? Does it ever? Is it fun? Yes.

The second story has the boys and their friends building a maze that ends up being giant when shot by Doofenschmertz’s latest invention, the elong-inator-anator. He also ends up with a big head and Perry has a large tail which makes for some interesting story lines.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out November 25, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Papercutz and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The King's Ransom by Janet Evanovich

Gabriela just finished up a difficult recovery and walking into her house, ready to relax. Too bad her (infuriatingly still-hot) ex-husband is there with his golden retriever cousin, Harvey. Harvey is on theh run. He was promoted to vice president of insurance at a bank, approving policies. Mostly, he plays pickleball.

Oh my god. The product name-dropping. I wouldn't be surprised if Evanovich was 6,000 words short and decided that the way to make up the deficit was to add a metric crap ton of super fancy, high end clothing/accessories. It may also be a tongue-in-cheek thing that I don't remember from the previous book but it sure made the first 50 or so pages a slog. It picks up a little bit for some adventure. It's as wild, crazy, and inconceivable as Evanovich's books generally are. I think regular readers will enjoy. 

Three stars

Gabriela Rose #2

This book comes out March 31, 2026

ARC kindly provided by Atria Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Holly Village Murders by Benedict Brown

Marius and Bella have another mystery to solve when her Aunt Adele dies. They immediately head for her cottage in Holly Village which is made up mainly of people who are classed as "elderly." There have been a number of deaths in the past year but that's not really suspicious based on the median age. 

What is odd, however, is that the Manet that was over Adele's fireplace has disappeared and another painting was put in it's place. Compounding that is the fact that Adele's death is not the last that this group of people will see. 

An interesting story wherein Bella and Marius are pretending to be married. A nice addition to the series. I don't think you'd need to read other books in the series but it might help. 

Three and a half stars

Marius Quin Mystery #6

This book came out November 10, 2025

Follows Arsenic and Old Lies

ARC kindly provided Storm Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder by Fiona Leitch

There's yet another murder in Jodie Parker's small town. This time it occurs on stage during the Christmas pantomime. Both Jodie's daughter and her mother are involved with the pantomime so she's met some of the people involved as well, including the woman who was murdered.

At first, the assumption is that it has to be connected to the pantomime, but it turns out that the murder is connected to a crime that happened over thirty years ago. Jodie, being police-adjacent, is up to her nose in this mystery. I enjoy this series because Jodie was once a policewoman and she also is invited to help with solving the crime, not just running around on her own. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out October 31, 2026

The Nosey Parker Mysteries #9

Follows The Cornish Castle Murder

ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins UK and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Witch and Tell by Angela M. Sanders

Josie Way hasn't been enjoying life lately. Her love life is in the dumps and someone is siphoning off her magic. Now, her friend's boyfriend seems to have disappeared and there is a townsperson who has started a crusade against cats. And not just cats in real life, but book cats as well.

There was a lot and yet nothing going on in this book. The pacing of these books seems to be slow, slow, A LOT IS HAPPENING, slow. It can make it reading the books a bit of a slog, sometimes. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out October 28, 2025

Witch Way Librarians #7

Follows The Witch is Back

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Five Golden Wings by Donna Andrews with Bernadette Dunne (Narrator)

Meg has two cousins getting married the Saturday before Christmas. Not a great day to begin with but their inconsiderate choices don't stop there. They are getting married on the same day at the same location and are feuding about it the whole time. Somehow, Meg's mom has become their de facto wedding planner since they've run everyone else off. The only bright point is that they are having their receptions at the Caerphilly Inn and Ekaterina is able to handle their nonsense.

Robin is only a little less adept at handling them at the church. It's just too bad that the front of the church is closed off at the moment and everyone is having to go through the graveyard. The same graveyard that has only just been re-consecrated after a series of pranks by some local teens. The same graveyard where a body is discovered.A

If you are a regular Langslow reader, you will probably clock both the victim(s) and the perpetrator(s) (trying to obfuscate this a little.) And that just adds to the delight of this book. The mystery is overall a little thinner than normal but a good read.

Four stars

Meg Langslow #38

Follows For Duck's Sake

Followed by Probable Caws

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

ARC of ebook kindly provided by MacMillan and Edelweiss

Calling All Blessings by Beverly Jenkins

Another Blessings novel and storylines are being advanced. 

Devon July is getting older. As a child, he was treated as a prodigy, a child who could preach as well as an adult. Now, he's having trouble adjusting, hiding behind a wig and a LOT of denial and ego. 

His adopted great, great-grandmother is also having troubles. Her past has come back to haunt her and she's not sure what do do about it. She has promised to lead Devon on a spirit journey but her own turmoil is interfering somewhat.

There are a number of other characters included. I wouldn't start with this book as the stories are really better when read as a series. 

Three stars

This book came out October 28, 2025

Follows A Christmas to Remember

ARC kindly provided by Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Blind Date with a Werewolf by Patricia Briggs

What a fun book. 

Asil has been set up on a series of dates. A group of "concerned friends" think he needs companionship so they have put his information on a series of dating apps. He will need to go through all of the dates for his friends to leave him alone. Sounds innocuous enough but somehow, Asil has to deal with any number of baddies on each of the dates. For some of the dates, we get to see the whole thing, others are told to us from the perspective of the date already being over.

Four and a half stars

This book came out October 21, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own
 

Golden Age Christmas Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler

A collection of stories by Otto Penzler, many of which I hadn't read before (and I read a lot of christmas mystery stories.) Most were taken from the Ellery Queen magazine and some have aged better than others; the writing was certainly different at the time many of them were written. Of course, one of them stars the detective himself. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out October 14, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Penzler Publishers and NetGalley

Opinions are my own