Book Review: The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Artie is a middle-aged high school history teacher.  He and his wife Evie seem to be at odds with one another, and he doesn’t see or talk to his grown son Rob nearly as much as he’d like to.  He wonders why people make small talk but don’t tend to talk about important subjects and speculates frequently about free will.  He realizes that people keep secrets from one another.  He is suffering from depression and isolation, and it’s starting to affect his teaching and his relationships with others.  

This is a very character-driven novel which takes us through a year in Artie’s life – 2024-2025.  The reader gets more than a peak into Artie’s mind and thought processes, interspersing vignettes with his wife, his son, his students, friends and neighbors.  And it shows the impact that Artie had on all of them.  I absolutely loved the relationship that Artie had with his son, and how it developed throughout the book.  This is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Strout and it certainly won’t be the last.  Content warnings.

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Book Review: Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (Harlem Trilogy #1)

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ray Carney is the owner of an up-and-coming furniture store in Harlem, married to Elizabeth, with their second child on the way.  His in-laws live on Strivers Row in Harlem where he aspires to live, and his father-in-law is a member of the Dumas Club, a club he would like to join.  His life vacillates between running his furniture store and fencing the stolen goods that his cousin and friends bring to him. 

Whitehead’s writing gives the reader a true sense of place – the Harlem neighborhood of 125^th Street in 1959-1964 – by including real places such as the Apollo Theater and Morningside Park, and real events such as the riots.  There is an overall theme of race, class structure, and how the law can be applied.

I’m anxious to read the second in the series, Crook Manifesto, which covers the 1970’s, and the third and final book in the series, Cool Machine, which covers the 1980’s.

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Book Review: A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #12)

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Armand Gamache is back in #12 of the Inspector Gamache / Three Pines series.  He has come out of retirement and accepted a new position as the Commander of the Surete Academy, the training course for the cadets who will become detectives.  He and Reine-Marie are still living in Three Pines, and an ancient map is discovered in the walls of the Bistro.  

Working at the Academy, Gamache is dealing with former best friends, foes, and enemies, along with all of the cadets.  He meets regularly with two third year cadets and two first year cadets, giving them advice and assignments to help them develop their detective skills.  He encounters murder, corruption, and deceit within the Academy, and discovers the importance of the newly uncovered map.  

Many of the characters that we know and love from previous books make appearances:  Clara, Myrna, Ruth, Olivier, and Gabri in Three Pines, and Jean-Guy, Isabelle, and Michel Brébeuf in the Surete du Quebec.  It is character-driven rather than action packed, but it is still quite a page-turner.  It would have been even better if a drawing of the map was included in the book.  I kept imaging what it looked like with all the important Three Pines sketches.  

Do yourself a favor and start reading Louise Penny’s books at the beginning, and you will be immersed in these wonderful characters and better understand the series.  I’m looking forward to reading #13!

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Book Review: London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe

London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(4 ½ stars) Zac Brettler is a 19-year-old living in London, and in 2019 he plunged to his death off a luxury high rise apartment into the Thames River below. His family was shocked by his suicide, but even more surprised when they discovered that he was leading a secret double life. He claimed to be Zac Ismailov whose father was a Russian oligarch worth billions. He became friends and was doing business with various wheelers and dealers in the London business scene, a world financial hub.

Zac’s parents questioned whether it was suicide or murder, potentially caused by the gangsters and criminal underworld of London that he was associating with. Despite his parents pressuring Scotland Yard to investigate their son’s death, nothing seemed to be getting done. At times Scotland Yard seemed like the Keystone Cops.

Once again Patrick Radden Keefe has written a fascinating narrative non-fiction account of Zac’s actions and his parents’ attempt to uncover the truth. He is at the top of his game with incredibly well-research investigative reporting. This book was a tense account of Zac’s downfall, along with his parents’ repeated attempts to make those guilty accountable for their actions. I was immediately drawn into this family tragedy which told the emotional story of Zac’s death and its impact on his parents and older brother. It’s a tough book to read, but incredibly compelling.

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Book Review: Around the Table: Tables and Traditions for Gathering by Shea McGee

Around the Table: Tables and Traditions for Gathering by Shea McGee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an absolutely beautifully photographed book of menus and tablescapes, arranged by season and holiday. The recipes are included for each of the dinners and celebrations. They all look so elegant but what really stood out for me was the innovative combination of ingredients and the use of what I probably already have in my kitchen, freezer or pantry. No need to scout out and buy obscure items that I will never use again. With just a few exceptions, the recipes and instructions don't take an inordinate amount of time and many can be made ahead of time.

This book is an inspiration for those wanting to entertain more - whether it's complex holiday meals or just a simple pizza party or burger slider gathering in the back yard. Shea McGee is such a wonderful hostess -- please invite me to your next dinner party of any occasion!

I first heard Shea interviewed on Katie Lee Biegel's podcast All On The Table a couple of months ago -
https://overcast.fm/+ABJ62W71YsE

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Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Set in the Pacific Northwest and Puget Sound, Tova is a 70-something woman who works the night shift at the local aquarium.  One of the famous aquarium exhibits is Marcellus, a giant aging octopus with whom Tova develops a friendship.  Cameron is an immature 30-year old who recently relocated to the same small town searching for his long-lost father as well as meaning for his life.
  
The story unfolds from three different points of view – Tova, Cameron and Marcellus.  Tova and Cameron find each other and slowly realize their connection with help from Marcellus.

It’s always a delight when I discover a five star book after reading too many three star fair to middling books recently.  Bonus points because it’s a debut novel!

Suspend your disbelief and immerse yourself in the lives of Tova, Cameron and Marcellus the octopus, along with the other quirky characters in Sowell Bay. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but you certainly won’t regret it!  Such a unique magical realism five star read!

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Book Review: The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorodooc (Marlow Murder Club #1)

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Set in small town Marlow on the Thames outside of London, three murders occur in a short period of time.  Details indicate that the same person killed all three individuals.  Judith is 77 years old and more than a little bit nosy.  She intrudes on the scene of the first murder, then takes it upon herself to investigate further.  She is joined by two other local women, hence the Marlow Murder Club.

I was expecting something along the lines of the Thursday Murder Club, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  However, the mystery is lame, the dialog is uninspired, the characters leave a lot to be desired, and I'm just not motivated to read any of the other books in this series.  Such a disappointment!

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Book Review: Joe Country by Mick Herron (Slough House #6)

Joe Country by Mick Herron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(4 1/2 stars!) The Slow Horse gang is trying to recover from their latest case with Roddy Ho's "girlfriend" and the attempts made on his life.  River Cartwright's grandfather has passed away, and who should show up at the funeral but his father.  Jackson Lamb and Catherine Standish are bickering as usual.  There's a new Slow Horse who doesn't seem to fit in with the group (big surprise).  And Diana Taverner is now working as First Desk, but Peter Judd is back in the private sector, and making her life a living hell as usual.  

Thus begins the action packed escapade, set in Wales during the midst of a huge snowstorm.  I read the book during our summer's heat wave, yet I felt like I was there shivering with the Slow Horses team.  Be prepared for some violence and gruesome deaths, more than usual for this series of books.  Luckily, there's always the dark humor to balance our the violence.  

The Slough House building is the primary character that appears in each of the books in this series with absolutely moody descriptions by Mick Herron.  It's downtrodden, forgotten, falling apart and shabby, just like the Slow Horses that work there.  Each of his books definitely have literary fiction overtones, and I just want to read slowly so I'm immersed in the language.  

This is the 6th in the Slow Horses series, and in my opinion they just keep getting better!  I've watched the previous five seasons on Apple TV+ and am anxiously awaiting the 6th season which is scheduled to premier on 9/16/2026 (based on this book).  

"If Spook Street is where spies live, Joe Country is where they go to die."

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Book Review: Fair Warning by Michael Connelly (Jack McEvoy #3)

Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jack McEvoy is an investigative journalist working for a non-profit independent news website in California - Fair Warning.  He uncovers a situation where women are submitting their DNA to a low-cost genetic analysis company and their profiles are subsequently sold for unsavory purposes.  After further investigation he discovers that there are a series of murders across the country which are all related to the genetic analysis company.  

It's interesting to see how Jack as a journalist approaches a story, which is much the same way as Harry Bosch, a detective, would approach a murder case.  Those individuals familiar with the Harry Bosch series will be pleased to find out that Rachel Walling figures prominently in this book, teaming up with Jack on the investigation.  

Fair Warning as a news website, and its editor, Myron Levin (Jack's boss in the novel) actually exist in real life, reporting consumer issues.  However, when looking into it I discovered that it was no longer in existence.  Their archives are available on the Wayback Archive - https://wayback.archive-it.org/16877/20210929142827/https://www.fairwarning.org/

This is the third in the Jack McEvoy series and I am very hopeful that Michael Connelly continues to write about Jack in the future.  The first two books are The Poet (1996) and The Scarecrow (2009); this book was published in 2020.  The book ends with a new project for Jack which I foresee as being a great concept for the fourth book in this series!  

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Book Review: View from the East Wing: A Memoir by Jill Biden

View from the East Wing: A Memoir by Jill Biden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(3 1/2 stars)  This is Jill Biden's memoir primarily covering the time that her husband was President and she was First Lady.  It was a challenging time which included the pandemic, the January 6th insurrection, her husband's campaign for re-election, and his ultimate withdrawal from the race.  Soon after their time in the White House, President Biden was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer and was subsequently treated.

In spite of all of these challenges, I found that her story was just superficial without much depth or insight into these stories. In addition, this book was just random vignettes, not at all linear but rather jumping around during Biden's presidency.  It does give the reader a peek inside the incredibly busy life of a First Lady.  And kudos to Dr. Biden for being the only First Lady who continued to work while her husband was in office.  She was a college English professor at Northern Virginia Community College.  I was a little disappointed in this book, especially having read her first memoir - "Where the Light Enters:  Building a Family and Discovering Myself." 

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Book Review: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sybil Van Antwerp is a septuagenarian who writes letters every day. To the casual observer she has had a very fulfilling life -- a career in law working for a judge, two successful adult children, grandchildren, a wonderful home on the water in Maryland, her expansive garden, and friends and pen pals. However through the letters she writes and receives, we discover more about her -- missed opportunities, loneliness, medical issues, grief, regretted decisions, and much more.

This epistolary debut novel is told entirely through letters from 2012-2022, revealing Sybil's life to the reader little by little. It was a delight to read, one of the best fiction books I've read this year, plus one of the most unique in structure. I am anxiously looking forward to another book by this ingenious author!

July 2026 Update: I read this book again for a summer book club, and enjoyed it even more the second time around! The six of us had such a lively discussion, and this book give us so much to talk about. I have been recommending this book to all my friends, and very highly recommended for book clubs!

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Book Review: The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews

The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clare Gast is a stay-at-home young mother living on the Upper East Side of NYC with a PhD in art history (all but dissertation).  Her husband is a lawyer, and her in-laws are affluent and very connected in New York City society.  She meets the owner of an art gallery and makes the first in a series of very bad decisions when she starts having an affair with him.  

We are immersed in the world of expensive art, wealth and privilege, along with deceit, theft and murder.  Clare and her husband  become suspects in the murder, and much of the last portion of the book delves into how this is resolved.  This is another fast-paced, page-turner mystery, although the resolution is rather convoluted.  Although many of the characters are very unlikable, I just loved reading about the art scene, art galleries, rich people gatherings, and entitlement.  
 
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Book Review: The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest (Heart Beach #1)

The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set primarily in the fictional New Jersey Heart Beach, Noelle and Jeremiah are 'fake dating.'  Noelle has been laid off from one of her jobs and needs to save money for her fall tuition.  Jeremiah is avoiding his family and their summer beach house by saying he's spending time with his new girlfriend.  Noelle and Jeremiah meet cute and he asks if she would stand in as a his girlfriend in exchange for tuition money.  It's no surprise that they start falling for each other throughout the summer.

This is the perfect summer beach read -- after all it's set at a beautiful summer beach house on the Jersey shore and involves three generations of Jeremiah's wonderful family.  There's the boardwalk, the beach, hang gliding, boating, pools, summer food, books, desserts, and more!  This was on the 2026 Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide under the category of Seaside Stories.  Take my advice and read it this summer; you won't regret immersing yourself in Noelle and Jeremiah's summer romance!

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Book Review: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alexandria Watson - Alix - is down on her luck.  She was fired from one of her three part-time jobs, her debit card was declined at the grocery store, and her roommate gave her one week to move out and find somewhere else to live.  She visits her manager at the Boston Public Library to see if she can get more hours to work, but was unsuccessful.  Frustrated, she goes through one of the BPL Reading Room doors only to discover that she has been transported to the Astral Library and her life is about to change!

This book is a fantastic immersion for the reader into the magical world of books!  If you are in love with books, reading, book worlds, libraries, and librarians, then this book is for you!  It's full of magical realism; set aside your real world expectations and get transported into various books.

What I loved about this book:  the descriptions of the book worlds, the various period costumes, the elegant vocabulary (I wished I was reading the ebook instead so I could easily look up many of those unfamiliar words), the patterned edges of the book, the book's end pages.  The author also mentions Henry Ford Centennial Library (in Dearborn, not Detroit as mentioned in the book); I worked at this library as one of my first library jobs!

What I didn't like about this book:  the heavy handed overtones of The Library Board and many of the library detractors; it often felt like I was being lectured to.  The middle section of the book got bogged down with going back and forth to many other books without any real destination or goal.  Also, I have not read many fantasy novels so was not able to fully appreciate all the characters, locations, and authors mentioned.

"Have you ever wanted to live inside a book?"  If so, then you will definitely enjoy reading this book!

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Book Review: Ironwood by Michael Connelly (Catalina #2)

Ironwood by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sheriff Stilwell is back in the second book of the new Michael Connelly series, once again set on Catalina Island. It's a small substation, with just six deputies and an office manager. But he has a lot on his plate including a small plane landing dark late at night from Mexico with a drug drop-off, evidence from a 4-year old cold case murder, stolen vehicles, sabotage to a local vineyard, and graffiti on two local landmarks.

The best surprise in the book was the involvement of Renee Ballard's cold case unit! Stilwell and Ballard team up to investigate and eventually arrest the individual responsible for the murder of five women over the past several years. Even Harry Bosch has a small role in this book!

I flew through this book in just two days. It's a quick read and very fast-paced, switching from one incident to another. And according to his website, Michael Connelly is working on the third book in this series, to be published in May 2027!

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Book Review: The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy #2)

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jack McEvoy has just been laid off from his job as crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, and has been given two weeks' salary to train his replacement.  He decides to investigate and write the story of a 16-year old drug dealer who has been falsely accused of murder.  He soon realizes that the police obtained a false confession, which leads him to similar cases of "trunk murder."

Thus begins the second (of three) in the Jack McEvoy book series written by Michael Connelly.  Written in 2009, it reflects the beginning of the print newspaper demise across the country.  It's a tense page-turner, delving deep into the extensive investigative research that journalists used to do.   I'm looking forward to reading the third (and apparently final) book in this wonderful series - The Final Warning.  Luckily, Connelly continues to write other series because he is definitely one of my favorite writers!

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Book Review: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (The Book Series #1)

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake is a young novelist whose first novel was an astounding success.  Since then he's published another novel which was not as well received.  He is working part-time in Vermont teaching writing to students in an MFA program, where he meets Evan, a smug and pretentious student who claims to have an idea for a book sure to be a huge success.  

Fast forward three years.  Jake is still struggling to write and has started working as a freelance editor for other writers.  He remembers Evan's boasts, looks for his published book only to discover that he died soon after the MFA program.  Predictably Jake takes the broad story line, writes the book, and publishes it to huge success.  (I don't think this is too much of a spoiler -- it's included in the book blurb.)

What follows is an incredible ride for the reader, following Jake in his successes and failures, including the haunting emails and letters from the supposed real author.  This is a fast-paced, page-turning thriller, with plot twists and turns throughout.  We get a look inside at both the publishing industry and the life of an author.  It's also a 'book within a book' because chapters of the book written by Jake are interspersed throughout.  

This is the second time that I've read this book; this time it was for one of my book clubs (discussion tonight!).  Once again I'm giving it five stars and highly recommend it to anyone interested in books, authors, publishing, and wonderful suspenseful thrillers!  It will keep you glued to the pages until the very end!

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Book Review: Walk With Me: New York: Photographic Stroll Through New York Streets Capturing Serendipitous, Everyday Urban Poetry, by Susan Kaufman

Walk With Me: New York: Photographic stroll through New York streets capturing serendipitous, everyday urban poetry. by Susan Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a collection of incredible photographs of many of the Manhattan (and Brooklyn) neighborhoods. Susan Kaufman has a background in magazine publishing and fashion, and has a wonderful eye for architecture, decor, and history. Her photographs immerse the reader in each of the city's wonderful areas. Her captions describe the location of each photo, and she includes a map at the end of each neighborhood chapter which identifies her favorite streets and locations.

I discovered this book at the shop in the main branch of the New York Public Library a couple of years ago. I glanced through it and realized that I *had* to have it! Since we regularly visit our son and soon-to-be-daughter-in-law in NYC, I have reviewed her book and compiled a list of her favorite streets and points of interest. During our NYC visits we try to explore two or three new areas, using her book as our guide. We have found so many interesting sites that we wouldn't have discovered otherwise! Pro Tip -- follow her on Instagram @skaufman4050 to get her wonderful photos in your IG stream daily!

Please note that the author has compiled another book focusing on the Hamptons!
Walk With Me: Hamptons: Elegant photography tour through Hamptons estates, beaches, and the cultivated ease of summer living.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

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Book Review: The Love Haters by Katherine Center

The Love Haters by Katherine Center
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(3 1/2 stars)  Katie is a video producer working at a commercial video company, and she gets the opportunity to film a promotional video for the Coast Guard in the Florida Keys.  The video focuses on rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, who happens to be her boss's brother and they are not speaking to one another.  The bad news is that she doesn't know how to swim, and of course this assignment involves a lot of swimming.  

I usually really like Katherine Center's novels, but I almost gave up on this one.  The main character has a horrible self-image and just wallows in it.  The first 25% of the book was very difficult to read because of all of her self-hate.  A "Note from the Author" at the beginning of the book warns the reader about this.

I started reading this book on the flight for my vacation, and finished it the next day.  It was a perfect book to keep my mind occupied but not too deep that I would lose track of the story line.  The characters were all very interesting, and the light romance kept things moving along.  I'm glad I persisted in reading it because it ended up being a lot of fun, even if it was very predictable.  

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Book Review: The House by the Side of the Road: The Selma Civil Rights Movement by Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson

The House by the Side of the Road: The Selma Civil Rights Movement by Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an autobiography / memoir told by Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson, the wife of the dentist Dr. Sullivan Jackson.  It was their home in Selma, Alabama, "The Jackson Home," that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used as his headquarters to rally supporters for the Voting Rights Act and the Selma Civil Rights Movement.  Their daughter, Jawana, was just five years old at the time, and loved when 'Uncle Martin' came to visit.

Greenfield Village in Dearborn (part of The Henry Ford) recently acquired The Jackson Home and had it moved from Selma to Dearborn, Michigan.  It is opening to the public this weekend (June 12-14, 2026) with a festive Block Party.  We had the good fortune of touring the house last month and the experience was quite moving.  The house is preserved just as it was in 1965 with as many original furnishings and accessories as possible.  The Henry Ford staff worked tirelessly to find additional items which needed to be added to those original items.  

Here is a 48-minute documentary, created by our local NBC affiliate WDIV, which was broadcast earlier this year.  The Jackson daughter, Jawana Jackson, is now 65 years old and is featured in the video talking about Dr. King and the role that her house played in making history.  One of the fascinating things in this video is how they had to cut the house in two in order to transport it from Selma to Dearborn on two different trucks, and then reassemble it once it arrived in Greenfield Village!
https://www.clickondetroit.com/video/news/2026/02/26/backstory-the-jackson-home/ 

This is an incredible book telling the story of the Selma Civil Rights Movement.  Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson is a wonderful storyteller, and reading the book I felt like she was my grandmother, sitting in a rocking chair with me at her feet on the carpet while she was telling me the tales of her life and all the important people who came to The House by the Side of the Road.  A very compelling memoir; very highly recommended!

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Book Review: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(4 1/2 stars) June Hayward and Athena Liu are both young novelists who meet at Yale. They both end up in Washington, D.C. and become the kind of friends who do things together but are not very close. I don't think it's a spoiler to indicate that Athena dies in a freak accident and June steals the manuscript that she has just completed (this all happens in the first chapter and is included in the book blurb). June researches and re-writes much of the manuscript, publishing it as her own without attribution to Athena. The book is wildly successful, prompting fame, fortune and book tours for June.

This book gives the reader an inside peek at the publishing industry: agents, editors, marketing, and the role of social media. It is incredibly fast paced and quite a page turner. There are twists and turns in June's life after the publication of this book and it shows the life of an author in the spotlight. There are themes of plagiarism, racism, and competition, as well as comparing yourself to others when you are lacking the success you think you deserve. None of the characters are very likable, but that didn't stop me from devouring the book. R.F. Kuang indicated that the book is meant to be read in one sitting, which I agree with. This book is highly recommended!!

It's very interesting that I read this book for one of my book clubs, and read The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz for another one of my book clubs - both book clubs meeting this week! While both discuss plagiarism, one is the theft of an idea (The Plot) and the other is a stolen manuscript (Yellowface). For more information and analysis of Yellowface, read the reviews on Goodreads - they are the most extensive and informative reviews I have ever seen!

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Book Review: Ward D by Freida McFadden

Ward D by Freida McFadden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ward D is a fast-paced suspense / thriller, with Freida McFadden's trademarks of twists and turns, red herrings, and story line surprises. Amy Brenner is a third year medical student doing her psychiatry rotation. Up until now she has been shadowing a psychiatrist who treats outpatient individuals with sleep disorders. However, she will have to spend a 12-hour shift on the inpatient psychiatry ward at the hospital. Unsettling things happen, patients and staff are not what they seem to be, and worst of all her childhood best friend is a patient on the ward.

There are too many coincidences -- no computers, no phone system, the exit door code is wrong, cell phone service is not available, no cameras in the isolation rooms, etc. There are also too many unnecessary deaths (content warnings apply!). Overall it is a very unsympathetic representation of the mentally ill and those health care professionals dedicated to their care, which is disappointing considering that the author is a physician.

In spite of these opinions, I raced through the book just to find out what happened! I've really enjoyed her other books, but unfortunately this one was not nearly as good, in my opinion. I'll be very interested in hearing others' opinions at our book club tomorrow.

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Book Review: The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This historical fiction novel of the Frick Collection is told in dual timelines in alternating chapters.  In 1919 the Frick family - Henry Clay Frick, wife Adelaide, and daughter Helen Clay Frick - is in residence with all their servants.  Lillian Carter, also known as Angelica, is a model and muse for many sculptures in New York City.  She takes a job as Miss Helen's private secretary, and helps her start the Frick Art Reference / Research Library adjacent to the mansion.

In 1966 Veronica Web is a model from England who snagged a job with Vogue in the Frick Collection.  She is stranded in the house in the middle of a snowstorm after the other models and photographers have left.  Joshua is a part-time Frick archivist and provides her with his extensive knowledge of the family and the house.  

Both women are very young (early 20's) and make some immature and bad decisions due to their circumstances.  In spite of this, I embraced both timelines and the characters, especially Joshua.  

The Frick family and house figure prominently in both storylines - the marvelous art work, sculptures, paintings, lavish furnishings, etc.  This book was extensively researched by the author, as is true with all of her novels.  In her Author's Note, she gives more history and background on the real-life character of Lillian, along with a great bibliography and reading recommendations.  I initially wanted to read this book to find out more about the Frick Collection in New York City.  I visited this museum in May 2025, soon after it reopened after a long renovation from 2021-2025.  

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Book Review: North American Bird Watching for Beginners: Field Notes on 150 Species to Start Your Birding Adventures by Sharon Stiteler

North American Bird Watching for Beginners: Field Notes on 150 Species to Start Your Birding Adventures by Sharon Stiteler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very well-written and concise overview of 150 common birds.  There are a couple of introductory chapters on Getting to Know our Feathered Friends, and Birding 101.

This is a great book for a bird watching beginner like me.  Each entry gives the color, head, geographical range, general impression, size and shape, plus a paragraph describing where it lives, male and female coloring, and habits.  Highly recommended for the beginner birder!

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Book Review: The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden (The Housemaid #2)

The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Millie, the housemaid, is back and working for a very wealthy family in an upper west side penthouse. She was hired by the husband and has never seen the wife, who is sick and spends her time in the guest bedroom. As you can imagine, Millie needs to find out more about this wife.

This is an incredibly fast-paced, page-turning thriller which I finished in two days. It has all the hallmarks of the first book in the series -- a rich employer, questionable situations, strange conversations, many bad decisions on Millie's part, plot surprises, and the story being told from two points of view. I think the first in the series - The Housemaid - was better but I thoroughly enjoyed the romp through Millie's life again with this book.

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Book Review: We Solve Murders by Richard Osman (We Solve Murders #1)

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(4 1/2 stars)  Steve Wheeler is a retired police detective living in England and keeping busy with his private investigation company, Steve Investigates.  His daughter-in-law Amy works as a bodyguard for a private high-level security company, currently on a South Carolina private island guarding Rosie D'Antonio, a world famous author.  Amy enlists Steve's assistance in protecting Rosie, and murder attempts, jet setting, red herrings, false accusations, and hilarity ensue.

Reader, be aware - The plot is very complex and involves many sub-plots and characters.  There are a lot of moving parts to keep track of - characters, locations, motivations, and alliances.  However, it's all worth it and I literally raced through this fast-paced novel.  In particular I loved the very special relationship that Steve and Amy have, bonding over their very frequent phone calls.  And Rosie is just a laugh-out-loud fun person to have along during any caper.  

This is the beginning of a new series by Richard Osman, very well known for his Thursday  Murder Club series which I'm thoroughly enjoying.  And I'm definitely looking forward to the second book in this series.  The author has such a skill of adding so much humanity and feeling to his main characters.

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Book Review: Dick Francis's Refusal by Felix Francis (Sid Hally #5)

Dick Francis's Refusal by Felix Francis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sid Halley was initially a jockey, turned investigator after his retirement.  However, that career proved to be much more dangerous and risky than he wanted, especially considering his wife and young daughter.  However, he got pulled back in to investigate quite a few unusual circumstances in recent races, indicating that the races results were being fixed.  And once again Sid investigates, asks questions to the wrong people, and as a result is repeated beaten and warned off.

This a fast-paced novel focusing on race fixing by jockeys, and the reader is immersed in the world of steeple chase races.  Pay attention because there are quite a few characters to keep track of, but it's definitely worth the ride!  Watching the recent Kentucky Derby reminded me of my fondness for Dick Francis's books about horse racing.  I was delighted to find out that his son, Felix Francis, has written more in the Sid Halley series.  This is number five in the series, with two more after this -- Hands Down and Dark Horse.  

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Book Review: No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan #9)

No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lloyd Jupiter is a 16-year-old con man (boy??) who surreptitiously slashes Crow's tire during a late March snowstorm, and then offers to fix it for him.  Feeling sorry for him, Crow brings him home, feeds him and offers him a bed for the night.  Things get really complicated when he unwittingly has information about a federal prosecutor who was murdered months before.  Both Tess and Crow are involved with this case - deep!  It's a wild, fast-paced ride until the conclusion.

It's been a couple of years since I read the last Tess Monaghan book (#8 - By a Spider's Thread), and it's nice to get back to a familiar character again.  I enjoyed the fact that a good portion of the book was told from Crow's point of view.  I also appreciate the sense of place with details about Baltimore - the good and the bad.  And Tess's best friend Whitney always provides comic relief.  Looking forward to #10 - Another Thing to Fall.

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Book Review: Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen (Her Royal Spyness #1)

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, also known as Georgie, is the cousin of King George V of England and 34th in line for the throne.  Without any marriage prospects after her coming out season, her brother has cut off her allowance.  She moves from Castle Raddoch in Scotland to Raddoch House in London in order to find a job and make some money.  

Georgie is without a maid to assist her with the day-to-day royal activities, but is resourceful and creates a job for herself.  She runs into her best friend from finishing school who helps her out, and meets several young eligible men in the process.  A mystery (and hilarity) ensues when she finds a man dead in her bathtub.  Multiple attempts are made on her life, but being Georgie, she just thinks that she is clumsy.  After several twists and turns, everything turns out fine in the end which is good because there are quite a few more books written in this series!

Georgie and friends are fun characters and bring a lot of humor to this book.  The reader really gets a feel for life in the early 1930s London, as well as what it's like to be a 'royal.'  There's high society, fashion, food, and fun in this quick and enjoyable read.  I will definitely be reading more in this series in the future. 

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Book Review: Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri (A Tuscan Mystery #1)

Murder in Chianti by Camilla Trinchieri
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nico Doyle is a retired New York City homicide detective who has recently retired to a small village in the Tuscan countryside.  He moved to Gravinga, his wife's hometown, after she recently passed away.  He spends his days at the local coffee shop, trying out new recipes, and helping his wife's cousin at her family's small restaurant.  Things change when he discovers that a man has been murdered.  Salvatore Perillo is the maresciallo of the local police, and once he discovers Nico's background he requests his help in finding the guilty party.  

The reader is immediately immersed in Tuscany -- the food, the lifestyle, the customs, espresso, wine, and even more food!  The Chianti Classico Expo, a large wine tasting event,  takes place in the middle of the murder investigation.  I loved all the characters, especially Nico and Onewag, the stray dog he adopted.  The interplay between Perillo and his assistant Daniele brings a lot of humor to the story.  All in all, a very charming cozy mystery set in the Tuscan hills.  Highly recommended, and I'm looking forward to reading the second book in the series.  

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Book Review: The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John U. Bacon

The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald by John U. Bacon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

John U. Bacon has written the definitive book about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975 in Lake Superior.  The reader is taken through the background of lake freighters used to transport iron ore through the Great Lakes, how the Edmund Fitzgerald was built to be the largest and fastest boat on the lakes, information on each of the crew members and the captain, what life is like onboard a freighter, and a detailed description of their last voyage.  

The book is incredibly well researched and Bacon's writing is both comprehensive and approachable for the novice.  The various maps and the layout of the freighter were invaluable to me in my understanding.  It is probably the best narrative nonfiction book that I have ever read, and would encourage anyone to read it!

I saw the author speak on the WDIV Backstory documentary which was aired last fall at the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the "Fitz," and was so impressed with his knowledge.  I would highly recommend watching this documentary -- 
Edmund Fitzgerald (71 minutes)
https://www.clickondetroit.com/video/features/2025/11/07/full-documentary-the-edmund-fitzgerald-2025/

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