Josie Silver, The Two Lives of Lydia Bird

When Lydia Bird’s fiancé, Freddie, dies in a car accident, she’s absolutely devastated. Even mundane daily tasks like bathing and eating feel unbearably difficult, and sleep is out of the question. But when she takes an experimental sleeping pill her doctor prescribes, she has a vividly lucid dream — or perhaps enters a parallel universe — in which Freddie is still alive. Soon her waking life becomes a chore as she waits desperately for the next time she can sleep and be with Freddie. But as time passes, she must decide where she truly belongs. This was an interesting book to start the new year with, since it’s all about exploring what-if scenarios, remembering the past, and making choices about the future. The novel is very slow-paced, but that makes sense, as more than anything else it’s a story about grief and navigating life after a big loss. There’s a slight element of romance that I didn’t find totally satisfying, but otherwise I liked the book and would recommend it if the premise appeals to you.

Nancy Campbell Allen, Beauty and the Clockwork Beast

In this steampunk twist on the gothic novel, Lucy Pickett travels to Blackwell Manor to care for her beloved cousin, Kate, who is suffering from a mysterious illness after her recent marriage to the earl of Blackwell’s younger brother. At the manor, Lucy experiences many terrors, from ghostly apparitions to the earl himself, whose surly and intimidating demeanor hides dangerous secrets. She and the earl, Miles, eventually team up to discover what’s causing Kate’s illness, who’s behind a spate of vampire attacks in the area, and who murdered Miles’s recently deceased wife and sister. So yes, there’s a lot going on in this book (and I didn’t even mention the werewolf!), but it’s easy enough to follow the narrative. I liked plucky Lucy and brooding Miles, and though the book is steamless, their mutual attraction is clear. I wasn’t as impressed with the book as I remember being when I first read it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and look forward to continuing with the series.

Delano Ames, She Shall Have Murder

Jane Hamish, a clerk in a London law office, is writing a mystery novel in which her coworkers and legal clients are the main characters. Her boyfriend, Dagobert Brown, instigated the project and insists that Mrs. Robjohn, an elderly client who’s convinced mysterious men are out to get her, should be the murder victim. But when Mrs. Robjohn really does die — apparently due to an accidental gas leak in her home — Dagobert is convinced she was actually murdered and decides to investigate. This is my first encounter with Golden Age mystery writer Delano Ames, but it won’t be my last because I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Jane narrates the story and has a delightfully witty voice, and I’m intrigued by her relationship with Dagobert (this is book #1 in the series, but there’s clearly some interesting backstory that will hopefully be explored in later installments). The mystery itself is fine but not remarkable; the book’s strengths are its characterizations and style. I’ll be looking out for more in this series.