Tag: mystery

Mini-Reviews: Tower, Flatshare, Aunt

3 Comments

Sally Nicholls, Yours from the Tower

This epistolary novel centers around the correspondence between three school friends who are taking their first steps into adulthood. Tirzah is stuck being her strict grandmother’s companion in a remote Scottish village, but she longs for excitement and adventure. Sophia is in London for the Season and hopes to gain financial security through marriage, but she’s soon attracted to a penniless charmer. And Polly loves her job as a teacher in an orphanage, but complications ensue when she tries to find the father of one of her students. This book is wholesome and charming and delightful, and I really enjoyed it! Each girl is vividly drawn, with her own distinctive voice, and I found all three equally compelling. The letters are chatty and wide-ranging, covering everything from the minutiae of daily life to the girls’ deeper hopes and dreams. There are some some dark moments in the book involving alcoholism and depression, but the overall tone is light and hopeful. This is a YA novel, but I’d recommend it to adult fans of light historical fiction as well. I definitely want to read more by Sally Nicholls!

Beth O’Leary, The Flatshare

After moving out of her ex-boyfriend’s London flat, Tiffy desperately needs a new place to live. She sees an ad for a flatshare: The current tenant, Leon, works nights and will only be in the flat from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., while Tiffy’s at work. The rent is cheap, so Tiffy jumps at the chance, even though she isn’t able to meet Leon in person before moving in. At first, they both find it odd to share their living space with a stranger, but as they start leaving notes for each other around the flat, they slowly become friends. When they finally do meet in person, they’re surprised by their mutual attraction, but difficulties arise when Tiffy’s ex reappears in her life. I feel like my summary of the book doesn’t do it justice at all. Both Tiffy and Leon are such endearing characters! Their notes to each other are adorable, and I like that they have jobs and friends and relatives and lives that don’t revolve solely around each other. Tiffy’s experiences with her ex are hard to read — the book does a great job of slowly revealing just how horrible he is — but the central romance is lovely. I’m glad I reread this one and would definitely recommend it to fans of contemporary romance!

Richard Hull, The Murder of My Aunt

Edward Powell lives in a small Welsh village with his Aunt Mildred. He hates Wales, the countryside, and everyone around him, especially his aunt. He only stays because she controls his finances; without the allowance he gets from her, he’d have nothing. As Edward broods over his distasteful circumstances, he realizes that his life would be much better if Aunt Mildred were to die. Soon he starts plotting possible murder scenarios, but his plans don’t work out the way he expects. This is both a funny and a grim book: Edward is a magnificently unreliable narrator whose misreading of conversations and events is often amusing, but he’s so snobbish and hateful that it’s tough to spend time in his head. I must admit, though, I didn’t find Aunt Mildred entirely sympathetic either! The ending is a surprise, but a well-plotted and foreshadowed one. Overall, this book isn’t strictly speaking a mystery—and certainly not a detective novel—but it’s worth reading for the narrative style and dramatic irony.

Mini-Reviews: Folly, Ships, School

3 Comments

Laura Kinsale, My Sweet Folly

When Folie Hamilton begins corresponding with Robert Cambourne, a relative of her husband’s who is stationed in India, they soon discover they’re kindred spirits. They fall in love through their letters, but their correspondence ends abruptly just after Folie’s husband dies. More than four years later, Robert is back in England and has summoned Folie and her stepdaughter, who is now Robert’s ward, to his remote country estate. But the cold, troubled, possibly insane man Folie meets is nothing like the man she remembers from the letters. I saw an old review online that said Kinsale writes “extreme romance,” and I definitely agree with that assessment — the drama and all the emotions are dialed up to 11. I don’t normally love high-angst romances, but this book really worked for me. The heavy drama is tempered by Folie’s lighthearted pragmatism, and while Robert is truly awful at times, we get enough insight into his state of mind at least to understand his actions. Despite the uneven and slightly bananas plot, I loved the central romance and will definitely be keeping this book on my shelves!

Martha Wells, The Ships of Air

This book picks up shortly after The Wizard Hunters left off: Tremaine has commandeered a large luxury ship, the Queen Ravenna, to transport evacuees out of Ile-Rien and try to reach the Rienish government-in-exile. She also hopes to forge a Rienish-Syprian alliance to unite against the Gardier — but she’s surprised when a political marriage becomes part of the bargain. Meanwhile, she and her allies face not only the Gardier threat but also a menacing presence aboard the ship itself. I’m continuing to enjoy this fantasy saga, though the pacing in this book is uneven; things really pick up about 2/3 of the way through, when a few of the characters get separated from the rest. Main characters Tremaine, Ilias, and Giliead get some good development, though most of the other characters remain pretty flat, and we finally learn a little bit about what makes the Gardier tick. Overall, a solid read, and I’m looking forward to the final book in the trilogy.

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the School

Robert and Lucy Kurland have now been married for three years, but two miscarriages and the ensuing grief have strained their relationship. Lucy tries to distract herself with village activities and soon butts heads with the unpopular new schoolteacher, Miss Broomfield. When Miss Broomfield is subsequently stabbed to death with a hatpin, Lucy and Robert once again investigate. Could her murder be related to a spate of nasty anonymous letters circulating through the village? I’m still enjoying this series and think this book is one of the stronger installments. The conflict between Lucy and Robert feels realistic, and they’re both a bit to blame despite both having good intentions: He’s concerned for her welfare but expresses it in all the wrong ways, while she bottles up her emotions and won’t let him (or anyone else) support her. The mystery is a little lackluster and not really fair play, though I correctly guessed the culprit fairly early on. But the series’ strengths are the central characters and the immersive portrayal of village life. Looking forward to the next one!

Mini-Review: Murder, Pairing, Spindle

Leave a comment

Martin Edwards, The Golden Age of Murder

This book is a sprawling account of the lives of the authors of detective fiction in the 1920s and ’30s, particularly the earliest members of the Detection Club. Martin Edwards is the current Detection Club president, and his enthusiasm for his predecessors — and for Golden Age mysteries in general — is both obvious and contagious. He gives biographical information about authors such as Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Anthony Berkeley. He also speculates a fair bit about their personal lives and sexual proclivities, with varying amounts of supporting evidence. He discusses several Golden Age novels, though never in very much depth, and is pretty good about avoiding spoilers. I found the book a bit scattered and hard to follow at times; the content doesn’t necessarily correspond to the various chapter headings, and Edwards often bounces among several ideas in the course of a single paragraph. The book also has invisible endnotes, which I found a bit irritating, though that’s just a personal preference. Overall, though, I think this is a good read for fans of Golden Age detective fiction, and it’s certainly put several new-to-me novels and authors on my radar!

Elizabeth Harmon, Pairing Off

American pairs figure skater Carrie Parker is facing career death after her partner gets caught in a cheating scandal. So when a Russian coach invites her to Moscow for a tryout, Carrie seizes the opportunity — but is appalled to discover that her new partner is Anton Belikov, a top Russian skater with whom Carrie had a one-night stand seven years ago. Anton doesn’t seem to remember her, and his gruff demeanor intimidates her. But as they train for the upcoming competition season, they grow closer, until secrets from Carrie’s past threaten their budding relationship. This book appealed to the same part of my brain that enjoys sports movies (even though I don’t follow any sports). I got the impression that Harmon actually has some figure skating knowledge; her descriptions of the routines and workouts feel like more than window dressing. I liked the Moscow setting as well. The romance between Carrie and Anton is fine, though a bit angsty/“it’s destiny!” for my taste. Overall, a decent read that I’d recommend if you like figure skating and/or the ’90s movie The Cutting Edge.

Nancy Campbell Allen, Kiss of the Spindle

Isla Cooper is cursed: Every night, she falls into a deathlike sleep from which she can’t be awakened. To find the witch who cursed her and obtain the cure, she blackmails her way onto Daniel Pickett’s airship, which is headed for the city where the witch is rumored to be. Meanwhile, Daniel is illegally transporting shapeshifters out of England, where they’re facing political persecution. He doesn’t have time to help Isla, especially when another last-minute passenger who wants to exterminate all shapeshifters forces his way on board. Eventually, though, Daniel and Isla decide to work together — and fall in love in the process. This is a fun steampunk romance with nods to Sleeping Beauty, and though there’s nothing extraordinary about it, I really enjoyed it! I liked Daniel and Isla’s progression from grudging toleration to mutual attraction, and I also found more than one secondary character intriguing…I kind of hope they get their own books at some point! In the meantime, I’m happy to be reading this series and looking forward to the next installment!

Mini-Reviews: Fair, Wizard, Truth

2 Comments

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to the Fair

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

Lucy Harrington and Major Sir Robert Kurland have finally acknowledged their feelings and decided to marry. But before they can walk down the aisle, they encounter another violent death: Ezekiel Thurrock, a longtime village resident, is found in the church with his head bashed in. He’d been unpopular in the village ever since winning “too many” prizes for his vegetables at the local fair, but could someone have been angry enough to kill him? As Lucy and Robert investigate, they uncover secrets from centuries past that are still influencing the present. I’m continuing to enjoy this series; like its predecessors, this book is a pleasant historical mystery with a hint of romance. I wish the romance were a little more prominent, actually — we don’t get much of Lucy’s or Robert’s emotional state or much external evidence of their love for each other. Still, I plan to continue with the series and will be interested to see how the protagonists cope with married life!

Martha Wells, The Wizard Hunters

Tremaine Valiarde is a young woman whose world is literally on fire: Her homeland of Ile-Rien is being bombed by a mysterious but implacable enemy known as the Gardier. Ile-Rien’s only hope is a magical sphere in Tremaine’s possession, which is thought to be a weapon. In fact, it’s a teleportation device — when Tremaine and some compatriots test it, they’re taken to another world where they stumble upon a hidden Gardier base. They also team up with Ilias and Giliead, natives of this other world with their own score to settle against the Gardier. This book is well-written, with a creative world and engaging characters, but I also found it pretty slow going. The extensive action scenes, such as those in the caves, are overlong and a bit boring. That said, I did enjoy the book while I was reading it! I just found it put-down-able; I have less patience for these big, beefy fantasy novels than I used to. Still, I’m on board for the sequels — this book doesn’t exactly end on a cliffhanger, but there’s definitely more story to tell — and I hope that Tremaine and her allies will eventually prevail.

Sharon Shinn, The Truth-Teller’s Tale

This YA fantasy novel is narrated by Truth-Teller Eleda, who is honest to the point of rudeness and incapable of telling a lie. Her twin sister, Adele, is the opposite: As a Safe-Keeper, she’s entrusted with people’s secrets and valued for her discretion. The sisters are close, even though they often irritate each other, and as they grow up they come to see the value in each other’s skills. I really enjoyed the cozy and charming world of this book, which is centered around everyday life in the girls’ village. I also liked the depiction of Eleda and Adele’s complex but ultimately loving relationship. There isn’t much to the plot—a gentle coming-of-age story with a bit of romance thrown in—but it’s a pleasant read overall. I won’t be keeping it on my shelves, though; I think Sharon Shinn has written much better books!

Mini-Reviews: Faro’s, Night, Swordheart

1 Comment

Georgette Heyer, Faro’s Daughter

When Max Ravenscar learns that his young cousin, Adrian, has fallen in love with Deborah Grantham, who works in her aunt’s gaming-house, Max immediately intervenes to prevent the match. He won’t allow Adrian to fall prey to a fortune hunter, no matter how attractive she may be. In fact, Deb has no intention of marrying Adrian, but Max’s interference angers her, and she decides to teach him a lesson. The ensuing battle of wits paradoxically draws them closer and ignites an unlikely romance. A Heyer reread is always a pleasure, and this book has a particularly fun plot, as Max and Deb’s prank war escalates to ridiculous heights. Max is a fictional hero after my own heart, cold and aloof and Darcy-esque until love inspires him to unbend a little. And of course, the intelligent and lively Deb is his perfect match. This isn’t one of my very top favorite Heyers, but it’s definitely near the top, and I’d still highly recommend it!

Julia Heaberlin, Night Will Find You

Vivvy Bouchet doesn’t call herself a psychic, but she does have certain unusual abilities. When she was 10, she had a vision that saved the life of a neighbor boy, Mike. Now, 18 years later, Mike is a cop who occasionally asks Vivvy to use her “gifts” to assist his investigations. The latest case involves a girl who’s been missing, presumed dead, for several years — but Vivvy senses she’s still alive. To work the case, Vivvy is paired with another cop, Jesse Sharp, who doesn’t trust her or believe in her paranormal abilities. As they investigate, Vivvy is forced to deal with the ghosts of her own past. This is not the type of book I usually read, and I wouldn’t necessarily say I liked it, but I did find it a compelling read! The mystery of the missing girl is a bit slight, but the plot isn’t really the point. Rather, the book is an exploration of science and faith, of truth and conspiracy, of why we sometimes choose to believe lies. I liked the philosophizing, although I can see why others might not, and I would consider reading more by Heaberlin.

T. Kingfisher, Swordheart

Halla has just inherited a small fortune and is at the mercy of her odious in-laws, who want to steal her inheritance by forcing her into an unwanted marriage. Luckily, said inheritance includes an enchanted sword: When she draws it, a warrior named Sarkis appears and declares that he is bound to her service. Together, they escape from Halla’s family and seek to reclaim her inheritance, having various adventures — and falling in love — along the way. I absolutely adored this book! It’s so funny and lighthearted and full of kind people being kind to each other (though of course there are bad guys too, but they’re suitably dealt with). Pragmatic Halla and stoic Sarkis are characters after my own heart, and the supporting cast is lovely as well. My love affair with T. Kingfisher continues, and I’m definitely planning to read her Clocktaur War duology, which is set in the same world, sooner rather than later!

Mini-Reviews: Bird, Clockwork, Murder

2 Comments

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.

Mini-Reviews: Holiday, Crime, Cold

Leave a comment

Catherine Walsh, Holiday Romance

Molly and Andrew are both Irish expats living in Chicago, and they’ve become friends over the years as they’ve taken the same flight home to Dublin every Christmas. This year, though, a winter storm grounds their flight, so they must desperately search for another way to get home for the holidays. What begins as the road trip from hell slowly evolves into something else as Molly starts feeling more-than-friendly toward Andrew, and it seems as though he might feel the same. This sweet romance, which I picked up as a cheap e-book, was a pleasant surprise! Molly and Andrew are likable characters, and I believed in both their friendship and their love story. It made sense to me why they hadn’t gotten together sooner, which is often my main gripe with a friends-to-lovers romance. I also liked that of the two of them, Andrew is the one who adores Christmas, while Molly (though not really a Scrooge) is more indifferent. I’d definitely recommend this book to fans of the genre and will be trying more by Catherine Walsh.

Martin Edwards, ed., The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories

This anthology of short mystery stories set at Christmastime didn’t do much for me, unfortunately. I don’t tend to enjoy mysteries in short-story form, as they usually aren’t long enough to let the sleuth do any actual detecting, or to leave enough clues for the reader to play along. Instead, most of the stories here rely on a chilling atmosphere or a clever last-minute plot twist. Some of them do this quite well — I enjoyed “By the Sword” by Selwyn Jepson, for example, in which an overconfident man thinks he can get away with murder but soon discovers otherwise. Similarly, Cyril Hare’s “Sister Bessie or Your Old Leech” is a fine piece of dramatic irony centering around a man who wants to murder his blackmailer. I can’t think of any stories I particularly disliked, but most of the others were pretty forgettable. Ultimately, what I enjoy about reading mysteries is the chance to try and solve them along with the detective, and these stories don’t provide that experience.

Alicia Thompson, With Love, from Cold World

Lauren Fox and Asa Hutchinson both work at Cold World, a kitschy Florida amusement park that aims to create a winter wonderland all year round. However, they butt heads constantly; Lauren is a serious-minded, type A accountant (Asa calls her robotic), while Asa is fun-loving and carefree (Lauren calls him a slacker). When they’re forced to work together to come up with ideas for improving Cold World, they’re drawn to each other and tentatively embark on a relationship. But they each have baggage that prevents them from being open with each other. I enjoyed this cute contemporary romance; I like a good rivals-to-lovers plot, and I found Lauren particularly relatable in her insecurity and occasional social cluelessness. I also really liked Cold World and kind of wish it were a real place! So overall, I liked this one and would consider reading more by Thompson. Her previous book, Love in the Time of Serial Killers, looks fun!

Mini-Reviews: Mistress, Princess, Death

Leave a comment

Mary Balogh, The Secret Mistress

Lady Angeline Dudley has no interest in marrying a rake like her brothers; she just wants a steady, responsible man who will nevertheless love her passionately. So when Edward Ailsbury, the earl of Heyward, chivalrously rescues her from the improper attentions of a rake, she falls in love with him at once. Meanwhile, Edward knows he needs to marry, and Angeline is certainly eligible, but her outspoken, slightly wild behavior horrifies him. He’s also drawn to her despite himself, but he has trouble reconciling his feelings with his long-held image of the perfect wife. This is the final book of Balogh’s “Mistress” trilogy and, in my opinion, the most enjoyable. Angeline is a somewhat unconventional heroine in that she’s not particularly deep or intelligent; rather, she’s a flighty chatterbox with terrible fashion sense but a very warm heart. Edward isn’t a typical hero, either — he’s very responsible and practical and not rakish at all. I loved them both and was rooting for them to get together, although the last few chapters got a bit too flowery and sentimental for my taste. Still, overall I quite liked this one, which is a bit lighter than Balogh’s usual fare!

Philip Pullman, The Tin Princess

This final book in the Sally Lockhart series doesn’t actually have much Sally in it. Rather, the plot centers around Adelaide, who vanished at the end of The Ruby in the Smoke but has now resurfaced as the wife of the crown prince of a tiny Central European country. Accompanied by intrepid detective Jim Taylor and German tutor Becky Winter, she must travel to Razkavia and learn how to be a princess. But court intrigues, foreign interference, and assassination plots threaten both their own safety and that of Razkavia as a whole. As with the other books in this series, this is an entertaining adventure novel that’s chock-full of plot. The characterization is a bit less convincing; I didn’t believe Adelaide would become an expert politician so quickly, and the romance between her and Jim is barely sketched in. So while this is a fun series and I’m glad I read it, I won’t be keeping it on my shelves.

Catherine Lloyd, Death Comes to Kurland Hall

Lucy Harrington is back in Kurland St. Mary to help her best friend, Sophia, with Sophia’s upcoming wedding. One of the wedding guests, Mrs. Chingford, is a conniving widow who delights in spreading malicious gossip and antagonizes several of the other guests. On the wedding day, Mrs. Chingford falls down a flight of stairs and dies, and Lucy is convinced it’s no accident. She and Major Robert Kurland must once again work together to discover the killer — and sort out their complicated feelings for each other. This is another enjoyable installment of the Kurland St. Mary series, though it’s not a particularly memorable one in terms of the mystery. But I do like the way the world is being built out and how some of the recurring series characters are being developed. Lucy and Robert’s romance also takes a step forward in this one, though I wish the book had focused on it more…there was so much buildup, but the resolution fell flat. Regardless, though, I’ll certainly continue with the series.

Mini-Reviews: Curse, Moonflower, Pearls

Leave a comment

Elizabeth C. Bunce, A Curse Dark as Gold

Charlotte Miller has been struggling to run Stirwaters, the mill she’s inherited from her father. Stirwaters is plagued by bad luck; the local townsfolk say it’s cursed. Charlotte is far too practical to believe in curses, but as mishap after mishap befalls Stirwaters, she’s determined to do whatever it takes to save the mill — even accept the help of the mysterious Jack Spinner, who claims he can spin straw into gold. But his help comes with a price, and eventually he’ll ask for something Charlotte is unwilling to pay. I really liked this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin when I first read it; this time around, I still think it’s very well done, but it might be a bit too slow for me. Most of the book is just Charlotte becoming more and more miserable as Stirwaters is threatened, and she pushes all her loved ones away to deal with the problem alone, which I found frustrating. But Charlotte’s community is well portrayed, there’s a sweet romance with realistic ups and downs, and I liked the resolution to the curse. I’d recommend this for fans of atmospheric fairytale retellings who don’t mind a slower pace.

Lauren Willig, The Lure of the Moonflower

The final book in the Pink Carnation series focuses on the Carnation herself, Miss Jane Wooliston, who is on a mission to locate the missing Portuguese queen before the French do. But since she doesn’t know the country or the language, she’ll need the help of Jack Reid, a British agent (and former French agent) known as the Moonflower. But will she be able to trust him with the mission — and her heart? The plot of this book is even less substantial than usual; even the climactic scene doesn’t have particularly high stakes, and the matter of the missing queen feels like an afterthought. The meat of the book, though, is Jane and Jack’s relationship, which I think is quite well done. Since Jane’s been a pivotal series character since book #1, it was important that she have a love interest worthy of her, and Jack definitely fits the bill. The book also gives us one last look at several of the other series couples, which was fun but a little overkill. I also appreciated Willig’s “where are they now” note at the end of the book, which did a pretty good job of wrapping things up. Overall, I think this is one of the better books in the series and definitely a fitting end to the Pink Carnation’s adventures.

Darcie Wilde, The Secret of the Lost Pearls

In this installment of the Rosalind Thorne series, an old school friend requests Rosalind’s help to discover who stole her valuable pearl necklace. The woman fears that the thief is her youngest sister, Nora, who’s recently returned to the family after a scandalous and ill-fated elopement. But when Rosalind goes to stay with the family, she senses many secrets and soon identifies several other plausible suspects. This book has the same strengths and weaknesses as the previous books in the series: a likable main character and an interesting look at the fringes of Regency high society, but an overly complicated plot that made the book feel like a slog. I think the next book in the series just came out, or will shortly; but while the series has its good points, I’m no longer interested enough to continue. Thankfully, Rosalind and her friends end up in a reasonably good place here, so I won’t feel like I’m abandoning their stories unfinished.

Mini-Reviews: Chocolate, Red, Mistress

2 Comments

Charlotte Armstrong, The Chocolate Cobweb

When Amanda Garth, an aspiring artist, learns that she was almost switched at birth with a painter’s son, she impulsively seeks out her “almost” family and befriends them. But when she’s invited to stay at their home, she soon discovers a sinister plot that threatens the life of one of its members. Amanda warns the intended victim, but he doesn’t believe her, so she devises an outrageous — and dangerous — plan to trap the evildoer in the act. I was surprised that the evildoer’s identity and basic plan are revealed quite early in the novel, but the book still manages to be suspenseful and exciting as Amanda and the villain play their cat-and-mouse game. The climactic scene, in which Amanda sets her plan in motion, is particularly thrilling. This the second book I’ve read by Charlotte Armstrong, the first being The Unsuspected, and so far she’s two for two! I’m definitely interested in reading more of her work.

Antoine Laurain, The Red Notebook (trans. Emily Boyce and Jane Aitken)

This short novel, set in contemporary Paris, begins when bookstore owner Laurent Letellier finds a woman’s handbag. It’s obviously been stolen — the wallet, ID, and phone are gone — so Laurent goes through the rest of the bag’s contents, hoping he’ll be able to discover the identity of its owner. Among the items is a red notebook filled with the owner’s thoughts, lists, dreams, and so on; as Laurent reads these miscellaneous entries, he becomes more and more fascinated by the woman who wrote them. But will he ever find her, and what will happen when he does? This is a charming book full of literary allusions, Parisian atmosphere, and understated romance. The fact that the main characters are in their 40s lends a nostalgic air to the story; even though the setting is modern-day, it feels timeless and a bit idealized. I enjoyed it and will likely read more by this author.

Mary Balogh, More Than a Mistress / No Man’s Mistress

In More Than a Mistress, Jocelyn Dudley, the duke of Tresham, is injured in a duel and hires the sharp-tongued Jane Ingleby as his nurse. Their constant bickering masks a mutual attraction, and when Tresham no longer needs a nurse, he offers Jane employment as his mistress. In No Man’s Mistress, Tresham’s brother, Ferdinand, wins a country estate in a card game. When he goes to inspect his new property, he’s shocked to find Viola Thornhill already living there; moreover, she claims the house is hers and refuses to move out. In both books, the women are hiding their true identities, and when the secrets come out, they unleash a lot of angst and conflict. I didn’t love either of these novels, mostly because I felt they went on too long after the secrets were revealed. I also found all four protagonists frustrating at times, as none of them were good at communicating their true feelings and opinions. My favorite character in both books was Tresham and Ferdinand’s sister, who fortunately has her own book! But these two novels are not among Balogh’s stronger offerings.