Tag: 20th century

Mini-Reviews: Merry, Wallflower, Best

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Charlotte MacLeod, Rest You Merry

This yuletide mystery is set in a college town, where Professor Peter Shandy hates the tacky, over-the-top Christmas light display in which all the residents are bullied into participating. This year Peter retaliates by putting up the most garish decorations possible, then promptly leaving for a Christmas cruise. When he returns to find local busybody Jemima Ames dead in his living room, he wonders whether his prank might have somehow contributed to her death. And when he suspects murder, the college president orders him to investigate before scandal can damage the college’s reputation. I really enjoyed this vintage mystery novel (first published in 1978), which includes all the predictable elements — an intelligent amateur sleuth, multiple suspicious deaths, some seeming impossibilities, a closed circle of suspects, and even a romance — but deploys them well, with plenty of clever wit. This is the first book in the Peter Shandy series, and I’ll happily read more if I can find them at my library.

Eloisa James, How to Be a Wallflower

Cleo Lewis has come to London for the Season, but she’s more interested in running the company her father left her, Lewis Commodes, than in finding a husband. In fact, she’s determined to be a wallflower and orders her wardrobe accordingly. At the dressmaker’s, she runs into Jacob Astor Addison, a rich American who wants to buy the dress shop and transport it to New York. Cleo immediately opposes this scheme, and they become business rivals—which of course leads to bickering, bantering, and falling in love. After enjoying Eloisa James’s story in Ladies in Waiting, I picked up a bunch of her full-length novels as free/cheap e-books, but this one was just okay for me. It’s the very definition of a wallpaper historical; Cleo and Jake would never have been tolerated in high society based on their speech and behavior, and the plot is completely implausible. There’s also not much conflict in the romance; Jake’s feelings and intentions are clear from the start, and Cleo comes around pretty early on. That said, James does have a fun, breezy writing style, and I’m hoping to have more luck with her other novels!

Kate Clayborn, Best of Luck

This final book in the Chance of a Lifetime series focuses on Greer, who’s trying to complete her degree at age 27 but needs a photography class to graduate. She asks her best friend’s brother, Alex, for help while he’s in town, since he’s a well-known photojournalist. But their collaboration is complicated by a mutual attraction that seems pointless in the long term, since Alex travels for his job and hates staying in one place. I really like Kate Clayborn; a lot of contemporary romances these days seem same-y and flat to me, but hers are heartfelt and complex. I loved that both Greer and Alex are dealing with real problems, but their trauma isn’t their only defining characteristic. They’ve both fought hard for what they have, so despite their affection for each other, they’re understandably wary of how a relationship might destabilize their lives. There’s maybe a bit too much angst toward the end of the novel, but overall I really liked this one, and I’d strongly recommend the whole series to those who enjoy contemporary romance!

Mini-Reviews: Peace, Murder, Dreadful

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Leif Enger, Peace Like a River

Narrated by 11-year-old Reuben Land, this book tells the story of a tragedy and its aftermath. Reuben’s older brother, Davy, commits an act of violence and subsequently runs away. Reuben, along with his father and his sister, Swede, head west from their home in Minnesota and travel across the Badlands to find him. They encounter many dangers on their journey, from the unforgiving winter weather to the FBI agent who’s on their trail, hoping they’ll lead him to Davy. But they also find friendship and help in unexpected places. I really enjoyed this novel, which is part coming-of-age story, part Western adventure, and part pilgrimage narrative. It’s a book that feels uniquely American; I don’t think it could have been set anywhere else. I loved the humor sprinkled throughout Reuben’s narration and absolutely adored the character of Swede. Recommended if the premise interests you, and I’m now interested in trying more by Enger.

Delano Ames, Murder Begins at Home

English couple Jane and Dagobert Brown are on holiday in the US and find themselves in New Mexico, where Miranda Ross, an old friend of Dagobert’s, now resides. He manages to obtain an invitation to Miranda’s house for the weekend, and he and Jane soon feel that something is off about the seemingly happy, prosperous household. The next day, Miranda is murdered – but who could have wanted to kill a woman who was (apparently) universally beloved? Last year I read and really enjoyed the previous book in this series; this book is a decent follow-up, but it didn’t have quite the same sparkle for me. Jane is the narrator, and her snarky voice is one of the novel’s highlights. Her relationship with Dagobert is often fun, though I occasionally found myself thinking she’s way too good for him! The mystery is fine but didn’t really grab me. I did love that the seemingly ignorant county sheriff is much shrewder than he lets on! Overall, this is a pretty good read, and I do plan to continue with the series.

Caitlin Rozakis, Dreadful

This novel opens with a man who has lost all his memories (and his eyebrows). He appears to be trapped in a dark wizard’s lair, which is worrisome – until he realizes he is the dark wizard, the Dread Lord Gavrax. He’s kidnapped a princess, and he’s in league with three other dark wizards to do some kind of evil ritual. But Gav isn’t sure he actually wants to be evil anymore. Can he hide his memory loss from those around him, thwart the evil ritual, and learn how to be a good person? I really enjoyed this charming comic fantasy, which raises some surprisingly complex moral questions as Gav tries to fight his evil tendencies. He’s a flawed but sympathetic character whom I found extremely relatable, and I just wanted good things for him. His goblin minions are wonderful as well, as is the princess, who’s more than she appears to be. Definitely recommended for those who like a spin on the usual fantasy tropes.

Mini-Reviews: Luck, Bar, Summer

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Kate Clayborn, Luck of the Draw

Winning the lottery has enabled Zoe Ferris to quit her job as a high-powered lawyer, but she’s felt stuck in her life since then. After a tipsy night spent thinking about her regrets, she decides to apologize to the people she feels she’s wronged. At the top of the list are the O’Learys, whose son overdosed on prescription pain meds; Zoe’s firm represented the pharmaceutical company and settled the case out of court. When Zoe shows up at the O’Leary house, she’s confronted by their other son, Aiden, who isn’t interested in her apology. He does, however, need someone to pose as his fiancée for plot reasons; Zoe, viewing this as her penance, agrees. But as she and Aiden spend more time together, they form an unexpected bond. I really liked this book and read it in a day. Clayborn excels at writing believable, nuanced characters, and I was rooting throughout for Zoe and Aiden, who are both lonely and dealing with a weight of grief and guilt. So this isn’t a light, fun read by any means, but I liked it a lot and look forward to reading the final book in the trilogy.

Ngaio Marsh, Death at the Bar

In this Golden Age mystery, a game of darts at the pub turns deadly when one of the players is hit by a dart—and almost immediately dies of cyanide poisoning. A trace of cyanide solution is found on the dart, but who had the opportunity to put it there? And why should anyone want to murder Luke Watchman, a celebrated London barrister? I’m continuing to enjoy the Inspector Alleyn series—this is the ninth installment—but I find that the beginnings of the novels are stronger than the endings. The first several chapters of this book are entertaining as they establish the various characters and relationships. But once the death occurs, Alleyn and his associate Fox spend most of their time interviewing suspects and searching the pub (but not telling the reader what they discover). So the second half drags a bit, and the slight romantic subplot among secondary characters isn’t terribly convincing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book overall and will certainly continue with the series.

Naomi Novik, The Summer War

Celia is 12 years old when she inadvertently curses her oldest brother, Argent, to a life without love. Argent leaves home and soon gains renown as a great knight, but Celia is racked with guilt about the curse and knows she must find a way to break it. But that means entering the summerlands, the fairy realm bordering her kingdom, where many dangers await. I’m a big fan of Naomi Novik in general, and my favorite of her books are the ones with fairytale elements: Uprooted and Spinning Silver. This novella has a similar flavor, and there are some enchanting scenes and bits of world-building. But I wanted so much more from this world and these characters. Celia herself is pretty passive for most of the story, as well as being a child—I want to know what happens after she grows up! I’d love to see more of her overlooked middle brother, Roric, as well. So on its own, this novella isn’t fully satisfying, but I’d love to see it expanded into a full-length novel!

Mini-Reviews: Heiress, Excellent, Witch

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Sherry Thomas, Ravishing the Heiress

In this Victorian romance, Millie Graves is the daughter of a rich tradesman who has arranged a marriage for her with the destitute Earl Fitzhugh. When Millie meets Fitz, she falls in love with him immediately, but Fitz is much less impressed, since he’s already in love with his childhood sweetheart, Isabelle. When Millie realizes this, she proposes that they wait to consummate their marriage and that once she produces an heir, he and Isabelle can pursue an extramarital relationship. But as the designated time for the consummation draws near, Fitz is surprised to find that the woman he really desires is his wife. I was pretty disappointed in this book, mostly because Fitz is such a jerk for most of it! He spends his entire honeymoon drunk, openly cheats on Millie with random women, and makes absolutely no effort to understand her thoughts or feelings. I couldn’t believe we were supposed to be rooting for this guy, and he doesn’t do nearly enough in the end to make up for his abhorrent behavior. So I definitely would not recommend this one and am hoping that the other Thomas title on my shelves, His at Night, is a lot better!

Richard Hull, Excellent Intentions

This mystery story has a common Golden Age setup: Wealthy and thoroughly unpleasant Henry Cargate is poisoned on a train. It turns out any number of people wished him ill, but only a few had the means and opportunity to obtain the poison and put it in his snuffbox, where he’d be sure to inhale it. The unusual element of the novel is that it starts at the murder trial, where the prosecutor summarizes the case against the accused (whose identity isn’t revealed till very late in the book). The narration jumps back and forth between the trial and the preceding investigation, and readers get inside the heads of the Scotland Yard inspector, prosecuting and defense attorneys, and even the judge. I liked the clever narrative structure and the reminder that catching the murderer isn’t the end of the story. However, the actual mystery isn’t particularly creative or hard to solve; the unique structure is the most interesting part of the book.

Stephanie Burgis, Wooing the Witch Queen

Queen Saskia is a witch determined to protect her people from the evil empire that’s trying to invade her country. Archduke Felix is the embodiment of that empire and the focus of Saskia’s hatred. But Felix is merely a figurehead imprisoned by his conniving relatives, who are about to escalate from torture to murder. When Felix escapes, he runs straight into Saskia’s kingdom but can’t reveal his true identity, so he applies for a job as her librarian, where romance and cozy villainy ensue. I enjoy Burgis’s writing, but this book fell a little flat for me. I think it’s because there’s no nuance; the good characters are 100% good, the baddies are entirely evil, and the romance lacks any real tension or depth. This book illustrates a trend I’ve noticed in the past few years, where romantic heroes are implausibly perfect and exist solely to provide emotional support to the heroine. Of course, I don’t want horrible, misogynistic “heroes,” but I would like them to feel like actual human beings and not cardboard fantasies. All that said, I may read the next book in the series when it’s published, but I will get it from the library instead of buying.

Mini-Reviews: Nonesuch, Masquerade, Strawberries

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Georgette Heyer, The Nonesuch

Sir Waldo Hawkridge—known as the Nonesuch because of his superior looks, wealth, and social status—has just inherited an estate in Yorkshire. When he and his young cousin Julian visit the estate to evaluate its condition, they soon meet the various residents of the neighborhood. Julian is immediately smitten with the beautiful (but headstrong and selfish) Tiffany Wield, while Sir Waldo is intrigued by her companion, Ancilla Trent. Meanwhile, Ancilla is immediately drawn to Sir Waldo but fears he’d never seriously be interested a nobody like her. I adore Georgette Heyer, and normally I reread four or five of her novels every year. But I recently realized that I hadn’t yet read a single Heyer book this year! It’s been a long time since I read this one, and I enjoyed it SO much. The main romance is sweet, and the secondary characters add a lot of humor and charm. It doesn’t quite have the sparkle of my top favorite Heyers, but it’s still a delightful read!

Lois McMaster Bujold, Masquerade in Lodi

This novella in the Penric & Desdemona series comes after Penric’s Fox in terms of internal chronology, but it’s set several years later, and Penric has recently relocated to the island city of Lodi. He is summoned to the local hospital to evaluate a “mad” patient, and he immediately realizes that the young man is possessed by a demon. Unfortunately, the patient escapes, so now Penric must find him somewhere in the city—no easy feat, given that Lodi is full of crowds for a holiday celebration—and team up with the local saint, with unexpected results. This series is such fun, and I really liked that this installment changes things up a little: Penric is in a new place, meeting new people, and looking for a missing person rather than investigating a murder. I’m especially intrigued by the saint, Chio, and hope she’ll return in future novellas. Overall, I’m still really liking this series and eager to continue with the next installment.

Angela Thirkell, Wild Strawberries

This 1930s social comedy centers around the Leslie family and Mary Preston, a niece by marriage who visits them one summer. The matriarch, Lady Emily, is kind but scatterbrained; her daughter Agnes is placid and indolent; her older son John is grieving the death of his wife; and her younger son David is an idle charmer. When Mary arrives at the Leslie estate, she’s immediately attracted to David, but Emily and Agnes want to set her up with John. This little love triangle is the only “plot” to speak of; the novel is very much a slice of life between the two world wars, and depending on one’s perspective, it’s either pleasantly soothing or incredibly dull. I’m in the former camp, and I enjoyed the peaceful, uneventful progress of this novel—though there is a jarring moment where David, who likes jazz, sings a racist minstrel song. I still liked the book overall, but it won’t be a keeper for me.

Mini-Reviews: Murder, Ruin, Story

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Anthony Wynne, Murder of a Lady

This mystery, set in the Scottish Highlands, opens with the murder of Mary Gregor, the elderly sister of the local laird. Her corpse is found in a locked room, and the police are stymied as to how the murderer got in or out. The discovery of a fish scale on the body leads the locals to believe that supernatural merman-like creatures are responsible. Luckily, amateur detective Dr. Eustace Hailey is visiting the area, and he eventually discovers a more logical explanation—but not before a troubled marriage nearly falls apart, and several more deaths occur. I quite liked this Golden Age mystery; I didn’t guess the culprit, and the locked-room puzzle was ingenious. I also found the psychological discussion interesting, although it occasionally seemed questionable and dated. But Hailey’s analysis of the dead woman’s character is both fascinating and integral to the solution of the case. It’s a bit melodramatic, and the book ends very abruptly; but overall, I liked this one and would recommend it to vintage mystery fans.

Mimi Matthews, Rules for Ruin

Euphemia “Effie” Flite was plucked from the streets as a child and placed in the Crinoline Academy, a school dedicated to educating strong and independent young women. Effie graduated years ago, but now the headmistress is calling in a favor: Effie must use her training to ruin the reputation of Lord Compton, a member of Parliament who’s opposing a bill that would allow married women to own property. In so doing, Effie butts heads with Gabriel Royce, a self-made man from the London slums who needs Compton’s influence to pursue his plans for social reform. I think Mimi Matthews is one of the best historical romance authors writing today, but I was worried that this new series would be too anachronistic and unsubtle (the back cover says something about “disrupting the patriarchy”). Happily, my fears were unjustified; Effie and Gabriel are both progressive thinkers for their time, but their beliefs are grounded in their cultural context and make sense for their characters. I also loved the romance, which is steamless but leaves no doubt that Effie and Gabriel are wildly attracted to each other. I’m excited to continue with the series—book 2 comes out in November!

Genevieve Cogman, The Untold Story

***Warning: SPOILERS for previous books in the series!***

In the last (at least for now) installment of the Invisible Library series, Irene finally comes to a reckoning with Alberich, who is a murderer, a traitor to the Library—and Irene’s biological father. But at their climactic meeting, Alberich reveals information that has Irene questioning her most deeply held beliefs and loyalties. How was the Library founded, who really controls it, and for what purpose? Irene must find these answers without getting herself or her loved ones killed in the process. When I first read The Invisible Library, I remember being disappointed that Alberich was a villain with no nuance and that Irene never questioned the benevolence of the Library. Thankfully, those complaints are no longer valid! This book finally digs into the Library’s true nature and sheds some light on a few things from previous books that seemed strange or incongruous. I think it’s a satisfying ending to the series, though I can imagine Irene & co. having further adventures if the author ever wants to return to this world.

Mini-Reviews: Messenger, Crazy, Gothic

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Susanna Kearsley, The King’s Messenger

It’s 1613, and King James I sits on the throne of England. His son, Prince Henry, has recently died, and rumors suggest that he was poisoned. To investigate (or possibly to set up a scapegoat), the king sends one of his messengers, Andrew Logan, to arrest the prince’s mentor and close companion, Sir David Moray. Traveling with Andrew are a scrivener and his daughter, Phoebe Westaway, who will record any statements made by Sir David. Andrew and Phoebe have a contentious history, but their proximity on this journey leads to very different feelings. Meanwhile, their perspective on Sir David also begins to change. Susanna Kearsley is a top-notch writer of historical fiction, and while I don’t know much about this time period, her depiction feels believable and authentic. I found the present-day adventure and romance more interesting than Sir David’s history with the prince, which is interspersed in the narrative via flashbacks. But overall, I really liked this one, though A Desperate Fortune remains my favorite Kearsley novel.

Annie Darling, Crazy in Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop

Nina, who works with her two BFFs at a bookstore specializing in romantic fiction, prides herself on being unconventional, from her vintage-pinup-girl style to her sleeves of tattoos. Her romantic ideal is Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. Noah, a consultant who’s evaluating the bookstore’s finances, couldn’t be farther from Nina’s usual type—yet she feels a surprising attraction to him. But as they get to know each other, they discover an unpleasant shared history that may drive them apart. I remember enjoying the previous book in this series, True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop, but this one didn’t do much for me. I think it’s because I can’t really relate to Nina at all (again, her romantic ideal is Heathcliff). The book also feels pretty dated in its approach to friendships and relationships, despite being published in 2018—it seems a bit like a Bridget Jones’s Diary copycat. Overall, not a horrible book, but not one I’d recommend either.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Mexican Gothic

It’s 1950, and Noemí Taboada is a glamorous socialite in Mexico City. But when she receives a disturbing letter from her cousin Catalina, who has recently married and moved to her husband’s remote mountaintop estate, she decides to visit and find out what’s going on. Noemí is repulsed by the decaying estate and its hostile inhabitants. She’s also alarmed by Catalina’s seeming insanity, and becomes even more so when she too starts having strange dreams. She eventually uncovers a complex and horrific history that’s holding her cousin captive—and is now attempting to ensnare her as well. I’ve enjoyed every Moreno-Garcia book I’ve read so far, and this is no exception, though it’s way closer to horror than I normally go! It’s definitely not for the faint of heart—there’s violence (including sexual violence), body horror, and all manner of creepy goings-on. But I really liked this take on the gothic genre and how it explores power dynamics, particularly conquerors vs. conquered and men vs. women. I also loved Noemí as a heroine; she’s got quite a bit more intelligence and spunk than some of her predecessors in this genre. It’s not quite my kind of book, but if this premise interests you, I’d highly recommend it!

Mini-Reviews: Hunting, Zero, Secret

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Anna Gavalda, Hunting and Gathering

This novel, set in the late ’90s/early aughts, follows four characters struggling to survive in Paris. There’s Camille, literally a starving artist, who’s eking out a living as a cleaning lady; Philibert, a sheltered aristocrat with OCD and no idea how to live in the 21st century; Franck, a talented chef who does nothing but work; and Paulette, Franck’s grandmother, who’s getting too old to live in her house but doesn’t want to move to a nursing home. All four are lonely and at the end of their resources, but as their lives intersect, they find connection and hope. I’ve read this book before and enjoy it every time. I laugh and cry and fall in love with the characters, and there’s an achingly lovely slow-burn romance as well. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows—Paulette’s story is particularly heartbreaking—but overall it’s a warm and uplifting book.

Agatha Christie, Towards Zero

The setup of this Christie novel is an ill-assorted house party in a small coastal town. Nevile Strange and his new wife, Kay, are visiting his former guardian, the rich invalid Lady Tressilian. Awkwardly, Nevile’s first wife, Audrey, happens to be visiting at the same time. The three members of the love triangle all claim to be perfectly fine with this arrangement, but tensions are high. When Lady Tressilian is murdered and it’s clearly an inside job, Superintendent Battle takes a hand in the investigation. This is one of Christie’s more farfetched tales, but it’s still a compelling read! I remembered the murderer’s identity and was entertained by the book’s clever misdirection involving certain clues and alibis. The characterization is on the weaker side—for example, there’s a romance shoehorned in at the end that doesn’t really work—but I still enjoyed rereading this one.

Genevieve Cogman, The Secret Chapter

In this sixth installment of the Invisible Library series, Irene is tasked with acquiring a book from Mr. Nemo, a mysterious Fae collector with a Bond-villain-esque island lair. In exchange, Mr. Nemo wants her to participate in a heist: She’ll work with a crew of dragons (including Kai) and Fae to steal a famous painting from an alt-21st-century Vienna. But tensions are high among the crew, the nascent dragon-Fae-Library treaty notwithstanding, and everyone has a hidden agenda. I love a good heist caper, so I found this book a lot of fun; it doesn’t do anything groundbreaking with the genre, but it both embraces and mocks the various tropes. I’m not sure the book does much to move the series forward, and with just two books remaining, I’m curious about the endgame. Guess I’ll just have to keep reading to find out!

Mini-Reviews: Firebrand, Unhoneymooners, Bummel

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Kristen Britain, Firebrand

Karigan is back in her own time but wounded and grieving after the events of Mirror Sight. Eventually she gets a new mission to distract her: She’ll head to the northern edge of the kingdom in search of allies in the coming war between Sacoridia and Second Empire. Meanwhile, an elemental spirit summoned by Grandmother attacks the royal family and abducts King Zachary. While I didn’t hate Mirror Sight, I’m glad this book takes us back to the series’ familiar setting and characters. I liked that Karigan has realistic human responses (sadness, anger, despair) to all the suffering she’s endured throughout the series. I also really enjoyed getting a bit more of Zachary’s POV than usual! The book is still far too long and has too many characters, and I could have done without some of the more melodramatic bits of violence near the end. But overall I enjoyed this one and will definitely continue with the series.

Christina Lauren, The Unhoneymooners

Olive and Ethan have never gotten along, even though her twin sister is marrying his brother. But when everyone at the wedding gets food poisoning except the two of them, they find themselves in the awkward position of taking their siblings’ places on the (nonrefundable) honeymoon to Hawaii. As they pretend to be married while participating in the various resort activities, Olive is surprised to discover another side to Ethan and finds herself falling for him. But a conflict between their siblings might derail their fledgling romance. This is my first encounter with Christina Lauren, and I enjoyed the book, but given the hype surrounding these authors, I think I was expecting a bit more. The initial conflict between Olive and Ethan felt very contrived and made me dislike Olive for jumping to conclusions. I did like the later conflict involving their siblings, which felt more realistic and gave some real stakes to the story. Overall, it’s a perfectly good read, but it just didn’t grab me.

Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men on the Bummel

In this sequel of sorts to Three Men in a Boat, narrator J. and his friends Harris and George decide to take another trip, this time a bicycle tour of Germany. But of course things start going wrong from the start, and the three men get into a variety of humorous scrapes. Meanwhile, J. often digresses to give his views on issues such as English vs. German education, the Germans’ passion for law and order, and why long descriptions of scenery aren’t necessary in a travelogue. Like its predecessor, this little book is a quick and enjoyable read, full of humor and satire. The book pokes gentle fun at the British traveler abroad, various countries’ attitudes toward foreigners, and the travel genre as a whole. There’s no plot to speak of, just a series of vaguely connected anecdotes. Worth a read if you enjoy this sort of light humor, though I remember liking Three Men in a Boat more.

N.B. According to Google Translate, “Bummel” can mean a stroll, spree, tour, wander, ramble, or saunter. All accurate descriptions of what J., Harris, and George get up to!

Mini-Reviews: Remember, Mortal, Bomb

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Mary Balogh, Remember When

Clarissa Ware, the dowager countess of Ravenswood, is taking stock of her life. She’s nearly 50, her husband has been dead for several years, and her children are grown. Now she wants to discover who she is apart from her role as society wife and mother. To that end, she rekindles her friendship with village carpenter Matthew Taylor, who was her neighbor and best friend growing up. But any relationship between them will cause gossip; should they get together despite the possible cost to their reputations? This is a gentle, peaceful installment of the Ravenswood series. The conflict is practically nonexistent, and many of the scenes feel repetitive, as both Clarissa and Matthew spend a lot of time reflecting on whether they should be together. There are also the obligatory updates on Clarissa’s many children and family members, which I found a bit tedious. Overall, it was a decent enough read, but so far this series hasn’t grabbed me…though I am excited for Stephanie’s book now, and I hope it’s coming soon!

Genevieve Cogman, The Mortal Word

World-hopping, book-stealing Librarian Irene Winters has just been given her most high-stakes assignment yet. A secret peace treaty between dragons and Fae is in the works, mediated by the neutral Library—but one of the dragon negotiators has just been murdered. Irene and Vale are summoned to the scene of the crime, a version of Belle Époque Paris, where they must solve the murder and prevent negotiations from breaking down. But do the powers that be really want the truth to come out? This is another fun, page-turning installment of the Invisible Library series; it might even be my favorite so far. Most of the major series characters (Kai, Lord Silver, etc.) are on the scene and get some good page time. The romantic subplot takes a significant step forward. Plus, I always enjoy a good murder mystery! So yeah, I liked this one and am excited to continue with book 6.

Lissa Evans, Small Bomb at Dimperley

World War II has just ended, and Valentine Vere-Thissett is leaving the army to return to Dimperley manor, which he’s just inherited (along with a title) from his older brother, who died in the war. Valentine doesn’t particularly want the responsibility, especially since Dimperley is falling apart. Fortunately, Zena Baxter, who came to Dimperley in a group of pregnant women who were evacuated from London during the war, has an idea that might save the estate. But not everyone is ready to embrace her plan. I loved this slice-of-life novel and its realistic depiction of postwar changes, but the characters are what really make the novel shine. Every single one is treated humanely and feels like a real person. There’s also plenty of quiet humor and an understated romance that I loved. All in all, an incredibly satisfying reading experience. I’m so glad I saw pamelad’s review on LibraryThing and decided to buy the book from a UK store (since it hasn’t been published in the US)—totally worth it!