Review: The Antiquarian's Object of Desire by India Holton

 

The Antiquarian's Object of Desire (Love's Academic #3) by India Holton

Publication Date: April 21st 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 368

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling, experts on magical antiques, have been close friends since they were children, but when an innocent embrace is misinterpreted, their reputations, and their positions suddenly hang in the balance. To avoid scandal, they decide to fake a feud, a plan that spirals wildly out of control. After one too many magical mishaps (including some literal explosions), Professor Otterstock ships them off to Cumbria to catalog Sir Nigel Harroway’s sprawling collection of enchanted antiques, many of which may be more dangerous than advertised.

 

I really felt for Amelia. Watching her navigate a world where her intelligence is dismissed simply because she’s a woman was infuriating. Throckmorton, Dummersby, and Professor Otterstock were absolute bullies, and their constant digs at her had me seething on her behalf. I kept hoping she’d finally let loose on them, and while she mostly held her tongue, her subtle acts of retaliation were satisfying. The romance, a sweet friends‑to‑lovers arc, was a swoony one.

 

The Antiquarian’s Object of Desire leans more toward romantic comedy than tightly plotted fantasy, and the story does wander a bit before pulling everything together at the end. Still, it’s an entertaining romp, slapsticky, clever, and full of quick humor. Even when the plot zigzags, the charm never really lets up.

3.5 Stars

Book Description:

When two history professors and best friends are forced to fake hate to protect their reputations, chaos ensues, in the next rollicking historical-fantasy rom-com from beloved author India Holton.

Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they're forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs.

The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble.…

Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real.

Review: A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn

 

A Ghastly Catastrophe (Veronica Speedwell #10) by Deanna Raybourn

Publication Date: March 3rd 2026 by Berkley

Pages: 336

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Librofm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Veronica and Stoker are drawn into a puzzling mystery when Detective Mornaday quietly seeks their help on a case he’s been ordered to abandon. Two deaths, one man drained of blood with twin puncture wounds, the other ruled a suicide, both trace back to an exclusive and secretive men’s club.

 

Whispers of witchcraft and Dracula swirl about, and while Veronica’s scientific mind remains open to every possibility, Stoker’s skepticism keeps them grounded. Their investigation soon attracts the attention of the Harpocrates Society, a gentleman’s club with an enigmatic leader whose nocturnal habits fuel the rumors. Detective Mornaday and J.J. are fun side characters, each helping to investigate in their own way.

 

A Ghastly Catastrophe was another delightful addition to the series. Veronica and Stoker work wonderfully together, both clever, determined and fierce. I love their playful back and forth and I’m happy the conflict comes from the danger of the investigations they tackle and no longer from their romantic relationship. I look forward to their next case!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Veronica and Stoker are practically dying for a new adventure but when their wish is granted, they find themselves up against a secret society and a darkly seductive duo in this landmark historical mystery from beloved New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

When the corpse of an entitled young man is found entirely drained of blood in a carriage next to Highgate Cemetery, Veronica’s interest is piqued. And then a second victim is found, his death made to look like a suicide, and Veronica and her intrepid beau, Stoker, know the hunt is on. The two men share one link: they were both members of a society so secretive that only a singular mention of it can be found anywhere.

Thirsty for more clues, Veronica and Stoker hear that a young Roma boy may know more about their first victim, but the only way to the boy is through an old acquaintance of Stoker’s, Lady Julia Brisbane. Lady Julia and her dashing husband, Nicholas, occasionally track down murderers and are only too happy to help. But as it becomes clear the secret society is a dangerous sect looking to entice immortality seekers, Veronica and Stoker find themselves ensnared by a decidedly more sinister couple.

The professed leader of the society claims to be a creature of the night; his partner practices witchcraft and they both fancy themselves emissaries of the otherworldly. Just as Veronica and Stoker get closer to learning the true purpose of the society and unraveling this macabre mystery, another body turns up, and they quickly discover they’ve gone from being the hunters to the hunted. . . .

Review: The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews

 

The Marriage Method (The Crinoline Academy #2)  by Mimi Matthews

Publication Date: November 25th 2025 by Berkley

Pages: 416

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Libro.fm | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies isn’t your typical school for orphaned girls. Instead of teaching them to be quiet and proper, the Academy trains them to be independent and formidable, something their wealthy backers definitely wouldn’t approve of. When Miles Quincey, editor of the London Courant, starts digging too deep, Nell is sent to handle him. However, while in his office Nell and Miles are caught in a compromising position forcing them into a marriage of convenience.

 

It ends up they have common goals, as Nell was sent to find a young girl, Flora Brent, who went missing on her way to the school and Miles is investigating the disappearance of his gossip columnist. The mysteries end up intersecting, a sinister plot at the heart of both cases. I was very worried about Flora, as London was no place for an unaccompanied, young girl!

 

Nell and Miles’ romance was utter fun with clever banter, gradually deepening into tenderness and trust. Their empathy for one another lends the story real emotional weight, tugging at my heartstrings!

 

They worked well together as they looked for answers. The danger they faced was chilling, but both Nell and Miles were well equipped to handle it!

 

I absolutely loved The Marriage Method! It was a captivating blend of mystery and romance! And can’t forget about the adorable cats! With danger, charm, and emotional depth, this story kept me hooked from the first page to the last! Five stars all the way!

5 Stars

Book Description:

The Academy always comes first . . . which makes marriage to its most formidable adversary an exceedingly inconvenient arrangement.

Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.

     When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincy starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters.  

     When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . . .

Photo Credit: Vickie Hahn 2021

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, a miniature poodle, and two Siamese cats. 

Connect with Mimi Matthews:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Goodreads

Audiobook Review: The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

 

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

Publication Date: September 16th 2025 by Macmillan Audio

Pages: 336

Audio Book Length: 10hrs 31min

Narrator: Stephanie Németh-Parker

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm |  Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Tess Bright and Hugh Balfour star in a modern film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. Off camera, however, sparks fly for all the wrong reasons. Tess, known for her Teen Choice Award nominations, clashes with Hugh, a serious, brooding, BAFTA-nominated actor. Their on-set arguments take a fantastical turn when a lightning strike transports them back in time to Jane Austen’s era. Suddenly, they must rely on each other to navigate this unfamiliar world. Luckily, both bring unique insights: Tess, a lifelong Austen fan thanks to her mother’s influence, knows the customs and quirks of the period from countless rereads and film viewings. Hugh, meanwhile, has studied the era extensively, tracing it through his ancestral roots.

 
Initially, Tess sees Hugh as a stuck-up, emotionless automaton, while Hugh views Tess as immature and impulsive. But as they face the challenges of Regency England together, their misconceptions begin to unravel, and so does their resistance to each other.
 
With its unique time-travel twist and sweet enemies-to-lovers trope, The Austen Affair delivers a fun, fresh romance I thoroughly enjoyed!

Stephanie Németh-Parker narrates and I thought she did a wonderful job with the accents and wide range of characters: male, female, old and young! She’s fast becoming one of my favorite narrators!

4 Stars

Book Description:

Two feuding co-stars in a Jane Austen film adaptation accidentally travel back in time to the Regency Era in this delightfully clever and riotously funny debut

Tess Bright just scored her dream role starring in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. It's not just the role of a lifetime, but it’s also her last chance to prove herself as a serious actress (no easy feat after being fired from her last TV gig) and more importantly, it’s her opportunity to honor her mom, who was the biggest fan of Jane Austen ever. But one thing is standing in Tess’s way—well, one very tall, annoyingly handsome person, actually: Hugh Balfour.

A serious British method actor, Hugh wants nothing to do with Tess (whose Teen Choice Awards somehow don’t quite compare to his BAFTA nominations). Hugh is a type-A, no-nonsense, Royal Academy prodigy, whereas Tess is big-hearted, a little reckless, and admittedly, kind of a mess. But the film needs chemistry—and Tess’s career depends on it.

Sparks fly, but not in the way Tess hoped, when an electrical accident sends the two feuding co-stars back in time to Jane Austen’s era. 200 years in the past with only each other to rely on, Tess and Hugh need to ad-lib their way through the Regency period in order to make it back home, and hopefully not screw up history along the way. But if a certain someone looks particularly dashing in those 19th century breeches…well, Tess won’t be complaining.

A wickedly funny, delightfully charming story, The Austen Affair is a tribute to Jane Austen, second chances, and love across the space-time continuum.

Review: Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews

 

Rules for Ruin (The Crinoline Academy #1)  by Mimi Matthews

Publication Date: May 20th 2025 by Berkley

Pages: 364

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Libro.fm | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Euphemia “Effie” Flite is tasked by her former teacher and guardian, Miss Corvus, to find evidence to ruin Lord Compton, a powerful political opponent of women’s rights. Effie’s all for women’s rights and wants the stipend promised to her, so she agrees. She hits a snag on meeting Gabriel Royce, a man intent on keeping Compton in power.

 

Lord Compton keeps the law away from Gabriel Royce’s gambling hall, but that’s not the only reason he wants Lord Compton in his pocket. Gabriel has plans to help reform the Rookery and he needs Compton’s connections and influence to accomplish them. Euphemia is a danger to his goals, but his plans to thwart her are undermined by his growing respect and attraction to her.

 

While this sounds like an enemies-to-lovers sort of romance, these two were never hateful or mean. Effie and Gabriel shared similar values and goals. Their admiration, attraction and care came through loud and clear and they had chemistry in spades!

 

I loved that Effie was a force to be reckoned with, well-educated in self-defense and strategy! Loved her adorable, spirited poodle, Franc, too!

 

Rules for Ruin was an utter delight! I was hooked from page one! The writing was beautiful, the characters multilayered and likable. I also enjoyed the author’s note detailing some of the history the story was based on. I can’t wait for the next installment, The Marriage Method (11/25/25) which centers on Nell and Miles!

5 Stars

Book Description:

No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful politician’s systematic attack on women’s rights, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

 

Photo credit: Vickie Hahn 2021

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats. Learn more online at www.mimimatthews.com. 

Book Review: A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber

A Tarnished Canvas (Lady Darby Mystery #13) by Anna Lee Huber

Publication Date: June 24th 2025 by Berkley

Pages: 400

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Libro.fm | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

A Tarnished Canvas is the 13^th book in a series best read in order.

A quick rundown of the series: Kiera, Darby is a woman ostracized by society when it’s found out her late husband had her sketch the dead bodies (obtained from questionable sources) he dissected for an anatomy journal he planned on publishing. Kiera had no knowledge of this at the time, but she couldn’t refuse with her husband forcing her to comply. He was an awful man, so I was happy he died before we’re introduced to Kiera.

With the knowledge of anatomy she acquired, and her superb deductive skills, Kiera’s a valuable source of information to Gage, an inquiry agent tasked to solve a murder while staying at her sister’s estate (book 1). Gage and Kiera initially lock horns.

Each installment tackles a new mystery, while at the center of the series is the relationship/romance between Kiera and Gage. Ms. Huber masterfully created two wonderfully complex characters, faults and all, so of course their journey isn’t all smooth sailing, but I’ve loved every minute!

 

In A Tarnished Canvas Kiera and Gage are wintering in Edinburgh, preparing for their daughter Emma’s first birthday, which holds both joyful and traumatic memories. While Kiera is immersed in her art, painting pieces for an exhibition she hopes to display, Gage is at loose ends with no major cases coming their way.

 

One bright spot is an art auction Kiera’s been invited to. However, the event is overcrowded, and the floor gives out injuring many and killing one. Kiera and Gage barely make it out alive. Was it an accident or sabotage?

 

When it becomes clear the collapse was purposeful, the police ask for Gage and Kiera’s assistance in finding the culprit and their motivation.

 

As usual, I was completely captivated as the mystery was unraveled piece by piece! Kiera and Gage’s relationship, as well as their friendships with a few of their servants, who also help with the investigations, are a huge draw for me. Emma continues to be adorable and the sweet baby moments between mother and child are so touching.

The mystery comes to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion, but Kiera’s last words have me eager for the next installment!

5 Stars

Book Description:

Lady Kiera Darby had planned to spend the winter practicing her painting, but instead, she must find the flaw in a killer’s masterpiece when an art auction results in one participant’s final bid.…

March 1833. Kiera and her husband, Sebastian Gage, have decided to settle in Edinburgh for the winter with their infant daughter. This also allows Kiera to enjoy long hours painting in her studio, making progress on the portraits she soon hopes to unveil in her own exhibit. She’s thrilled when she receives an invitation to the auction of the late Lord Eldin’s coveted art collection, and she and Gage eagerly accept. When the floor collapses beneath the gathering, killing one of their fellow bidders, Kiera and Gage are lucky to escape with their lives.

Within days it becomes apparent that what at first seemed to be a terrible accident is actually something far more nefarious. Someone deliberately compromised the integrity of the structure, though the police are unsure of the culprit’s aim. Sergeant Maclean requests Kiera and Gage’s assistance in figuring out who would wish to harm the bidders. As they dig deeper, it becomes increasingly apparent that the victim was not the killer’s intended target . . . and that Kiera was lured to the auction deliberately. Kiera and Gage must utilize all their resources to unveil a monster willing to risk the lives of dozens of bystanders to achieve their ends. But they’re on the verge of making a dire miscalculation. For one of the cleverest tricks in a painter’s repertoire is the art of misdirection, and their eyes have been drawn far from the gravest danger.

Review: The Eights by Joanna Miller

 

The Eights by Joanna Miller

Publication Date: April 15th 2025 by G.P. Putnam's Sons

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

What a brilliant and moving debut! I find the events around the time of WWI very interesting, but the personal aspects brought The Eights to life for me!

 

The story alternates between Otto, Beatrice, Dora and Marianne’s POV, all touched by the war and the struggles women faced at that time. So many challenges being part of the first group of women to potentially earn a degree from Oxford in 1920. Nicknamed “The Eights” because of their residence building, they bond over their experiences drawing close. Their friendship and support of each other was moving. There was a little bit of romance, but it was a small, but wonderful part of the story!

 

Otto is haunted by her memories of volunteering during the war. Dora deals with the loss of her brother and fiancé. Beatrice’s mother loved fighting for women’s rights more than her daughter. Beatrice’s mother was awful!  Then there’s the pastor’s daughter, Marianne, carrying a secret. At first, I thought she was the least interesting, but she ended up being my favorite by the end! I loved them all, though!

5 Stars

Book Description:

They knew they were changing history.
They didn't know they would change each other.

Following the unlikely friendship of four of the first ever women to matriculate at Oxford University in the aftermath of the First World War, a captivating debut novel about sisterhood, self-determination and the many forms courage can take.

Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its 1000-year history, the world's most famous university has admitted female students. Giddy with dreams of equality, education and emancipation, four young women move into neighbouring rooms. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne and Otto (collectively known as The Eights) have come here from all walks of life, and they are thrown into an unlikely, life-affirming friendship.

Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford - where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed.

But Oxford's dreaming spires cast a dark shadow: in 1920, misogyny is still rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War are still very real indeed. And as the group navigate this tumultuous moment in time, their friendship will become more important than ever.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Joanna Miller studied English at Exeter College, Oxford, and later returned to complete an English teaching degree at the Department of Educational Studies. After ten years as a teacher and literacy adviser, she set up an award-winning poetry gift business. Miller's rhyming verse has been filmed twice by the BBC, and in 2015 she won the Poetry Prize, run by Bloomsbury Publishing and the National Literacy Trust. In 2021, Miller graduated from the Faber Academy, after which she was accepted on the Escalator Talent Development Scheme at The National Centre for Writing. She has recently returned to Oxford to study part-time for a diploma in creative writing. 

Review: The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews

 

The Lily of Ludgate Hill (Belles of London #4)  by Mimi Matthews

Publication Date: November 19th 2024 by Berkley

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Libro.fm | Audible | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Stella Hobhouse has been through two London seasons, but unsuccessful in her mission to find a suitable husband. She’s been singled out as an oddity because of her prematurely gray hair, her passion for riding her spirited horse in an all-out gallop. Also, for speaking her mind when her holier-than-thou brother would like her to be a quiet, obedient woman. Such a jerk!

 

When artist Edward “Teddy” Hayes lays eyes on Stella he’s mesmerized by her beauty and unusual hair, and he’s determined to paint her. Since a suffering from a fever that partially paralyzed him, Teddy’s bold in his pursuits, especially when it comes to his art.

 

Teddy and Stella meet again at a house party and circumstances thrust them together and they end up forming a friendship and more. There’s a spark of attraction right from the beginning, but it’s a slow, natural progression of friendship to love. Both Teddy and Stella do conform to society’s expectations in physicality and in manner and so they were wonderfully suited!

 

The Muse of Maiden Lane was a lovely conclusion to The Belles of London series! I adored Ms. Matthews’ inclusion of characters that were not what people would think of as perfect. Teddy’s struggles from being in a wheeled chair were portrayed in a realistic way, that felt true to his character. Teddy and Stella’s romance was so very touching, and I loved that we got to “see” all the past Belles happy with their men. I also loved the strong female friendship between these women so devoted and supportive of each other!

4 Stars

Book Description:

A silver-haired equestrienne and a charismatic artist turn a scandalous bargain into a vibrant portrait of love.

Stella Hobhouse is a brilliant rider, stalwart friend, skilled sketch artist—and completely overlooked. Her outmodish gray hair makes her invisible to London society. Combined with her brother’s pious restrictions and her dwindling inheritance, Stella is on the verge of a lifetime marooned in Derbyshire as a spinster. Unless she does something drastic…like posing for a daring new style of portrait by the only man who’s ever really seen her.

Aspiring painter Edward “Teddy” Hayes knows true beauty when he sees it. He would never ask Stella to risk her reputation as an artist’s model but in the five years since a virulent bout of scarlet fever left him partially paralyzed, Teddy has learned to heed good fortune when he finds it. He’ll do anything to persuade his muse to pose for him, even if he must offer her a marriage of convenience.

After all, though Teddy has yearned to trace Stella’s luminous beauty on canvas since their chance meeting, her heart is what he truly aches to capture….

Photo credit: Vickie Hahn 2021

 About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats. Learn more online at www.mimimatthews.com. 

Review: The Specimen by Jaima Fixsen

 

The Specimen by Jaima Fixsen

Publication Date: October 15th 2024 by Poisoned Pen Press & Recorded Books

Pages: 416

Audio Book Length: 13hrs 3min

Narrator: Cathleen McCarron

Source: Publishers

Rating: ★★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

It’s 1826 in Edinburgh, Scotland when Isobel’s seven-year-old son, Thomas, goes missing. She’s wild with grief and hounds the police daily, but there’s not sign of him anywhere. Months later, Isobel, at the urging of friends, is attending a museum of morbid curiosities when she starts to hear the beating of Thomas’ heart!

 

The Specimen was suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat as Isobel searches for the truth and stumbles on a way to do it that puts her in danger! I was rooting for her as she uncovered the details and looked for a way to serve up justice! There’s a splash of spine-tingling supernatural here, too!

 

The writing was rich and vivid without sacrificing pace! Don’t miss reading the author’s note at the end which gives a bit of the history of the true story The Specimen was based on and how she came up with the story!

 

I alternately read and listened to The Specimen. The audio was fantastic! Cathleen McCarron’s Scottish accent was wonderful to listen to and there were pronunciations I wouldn’t have got right otherwise. She seamlessly performed both male and female voices. Loved!

5 Stars

Book Description:

Walk carefully, lest you become a part of Dr. Burnett's collection…

1826. Isobel Tait finds herself, by chance, staring at a tiny human heart floating in a jar. It should be of little consequence; Dr. Burnett is renowned for his collection of oddities and medical specimens, and this, a juvenile heart with a damaged mitral valve, is not the strangest thing on display. Except that the condition is rare, and that Isobel's young son, who has been missing for months, suffered from the ailment.

A phantom pulse beats in Isobel's ears. She knows something here isn't right.

Missing persons cases are all too common in Edinburgh, where people simply vanish like mist. But Burnett is obsessed with his specimens – how far would he go to acquire a new one? Determined to investigate, Isobel joins his staff as the keeper of his collection. What she'll unearth, though, is far worse than any of her nightmares…

Based on true crimes, The Specimen is a mesmerizing story about one woman's search for truth and vengeance in the darkest of places—where the deadliest secrets lie hidden in plain sight, on a freshly dusted shelf.

Review: The Cold Light of Day by Anna Lee Huber

The Cold Light of Day (Verity Kent Mysteries #7) by Anna Lee Huber

Publication Date: September 24th 2024 by Kensington

Pages: 384

Source: Publisher

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads 

My Thoughts:

Verity and Sidney are in Dublin, Ireland at the request of Verity’s British Secret Service handler, “C”, to locate fellow spy, Alec Xavier since he’s dropped out of communication after being sent to infiltrate the IRA. With the situation so volatile and dangerous, they’re understandably very concerned. By day, Verity and Sidney go undercover, Verity to track down Alec and Sidney to see if he can locate the phosgene canisters, stolen by their nemesis, Lord Ardmore. At night, they keep up the ruse of only being in Ireland for pleasure by attending dinner parties and rubbing elbows with the elite in society and government.

 

Along with her assignment Verity is tasked by a Lord French, to investigate an attack on a woman, demoralizing her to the point that she took her own life soon after. He wants Verity to find out what happened and get justice for her and her grieving family.  I was outraged for this young woman and so was Verity, which made her more determined to find the culprits responsible.

 

Love Verity and her pluck! She’s quick and clever, even when faced with frightening situations.

 

The Verity Kent series is one of my favorites and best read in order. It’s a captivating combination of mystery, political intrigue, crime procedural, danger and a splash of romance! Verity and Sidney have had to contend with personal struggles stemming from their experiences in World War I. Even several years later (this story being set in 1920) the aftermath is still playing out. While some of the mysteries presented are solved in this installment, some are not, and it ended on an unsettling note. I eagerly await the next book!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

The latest novel in the action-packed historical mystery series featuring Verity Kent, fashionable former Secret Service agent turned intrepid sleuth and high-society darling on her next clandestine mission—from the USA Today bestselling author of the Lady Darby Mysteries. A treat for fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Susan Ella MacNeal.

June 1920, Ireland: The streets of Dublin seethe with revolution as the Irish Republican Army clashes with British authorities. Roving assassination squads mean nowhere is truly safe, particularly for Verity Kent and her war hero husband, Sidney. Given their celebrity as society darlings and intrepid sleuths, they must tread carefully to go unnoticed—nearly impossible when they are called upon to search for Verity’s fellow spy and friend . . .

Captain Alec Xavier has seemingly vanished after traveling to Dublin to infiltrate the IRA at its highest levels. Doing her best to maintain a modicum of normalcy and stay under the radar of both the rebels and British Intelligence, Verity works undercover by day and waltzes through the city’s elite social scene by night. Still, she fears the worst for Alec—until shocking evidence mounts that not only is he alive, but that he has switched sides . . .

Already disillusioned with the British government, the news leaves Verity and Sidney reeling. Worse, they learn of a conspiracy within Dublin Castle, where personal vendettas are being carried out and sanctioned by British Intelligence under the cover of revolution. With the distinction between friend and foe never more blurred—or the margin for error narrower—Verity and Sidney cannot turn a blind eye. Especially when a familiar adversary appears, bringing a threat almost too terrifying to confront—even in the cold light of day . . .

 

Review: Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor

 

Agony Hill (Franklin Warren #1) by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Publication Date: August 6th 2024 by Minotaur Books

Pages: 320

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

It’s August of 1965, and Frank Warren has transferred to Bethany, Vermont as a Detective for the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation. After suffering a tragedy, the new position and move is a welcome change for Detective Warren.

 

Right away Warren is called out when a man dies in fire at one of the farms. At first glance, suicide is suspected, but Warren feels there’s might be more. Weber, a back-to-the-land farmer, was not well-liked man. His wife’s reactions to his death isn’t as expected, but from all accounts the Weber family is regarded as a bit odd.

 

Warren is a newcomer, so we’re introduced to the town and inhabitants through his eyes.  But we also get the perspective of Alice Bellows, Warren’s neighbor, a longtime resident and bit of an amateur sleuth, as well.  Alice has her own investigation(s), and I’m intrigued by her mysterious past and how it might play out in future stories. Sylvie Weber (Hugh’s widow) also has a POV. Pieces of the past revealed through her recollections. She’s an interesting character and I hope to see more of her and her children in the coming books.

 

Agony Hill was engrossing from the first page! The characters, time period, and setting of Vermont were vividly portrayed! I felt immersed in the story as Detective Warren pieced together all the facts and got to the truth. I liked seeing the relationships forming between Warren, his junior partner, Pinky, and other townsfolk. One relationship I’m especially interested in even though it’s been put in the “impossible” column for now. I'm eager for the next installment!

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Set in rural Vermont in the volatile 1960s, Agony Hill is the first novel in a new historical series full of vivid New England atmosphere and the deeply drawn characters that are Sarah Stewart Taylor's trademark.

In the hot summer of 1965, Bostonian Franklin Warren arrives in Bethany, Vermont, to take a position as a detective with the state police. Warren's new home is on the verge of monumental change; the interstates under construction will bring new people, new opportunities, and new problems to Vermont, and the Cold War and protests against the war in Vietnam have finally reached the dirt roads and rolling pastures of Bethany.

Warren has barely unpacked when he's called up to a remote farm on Agony Hill. Former New Yorker and Back-to-the-Lander Hugh Weber seems to have set fire to his barn and himself, with the door barred from the inside, but things aren’t adding up for Warren. The people of Bethany—from Weber’s enigmatic wife to Warren's neighbor, widow and amateur detective Alice Bellows — clearly have secrets they’d like to keep, but Warren can’t tell if the truth about Weber’s death is one of them. As he gets to know his new home and grapples with the tragedy that brought him there, Warren is drawn to the people and traditions of small town Vermont, even as he finds darkness amidst the beauty.

Review: Disturbing the Dead by Kelley Armstrong

 

Disturbing the Dead (A Rip Through Time #3) by Kelley Armstrong

Publication Date: May 7th 2024 by Minotaur Books 

Pages: 337

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★½

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Audible | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Disturbing the Dead was another exciting mystery in the Rip Through Time series! It’s the third book in a series best read in order. The Grays are invited to a mummy unwrapping, which is distasteful to Mallory with its insensitivity to the dead, but this is 150 years ago. However, the unwrapping serves up a shocking surprise! Mallory, Duncan, and Detective McCreadie hunt up a killer and thief.

 

It’s been fun seeing how Mallory deals with the lack of forensic advances and technology in solving these cases. I also enjoy the relationship between Mallory and Duncan. There’s been a romance brewing, the slow-burn kind. I also enjoy Mallory’s friendship with Isla, Duncan’s sister. The two have scientific minds and big hearts!

 

I was happy that Mallory’s place as Dr. Gray’s medical assistant was more solidified. There were a few ends tied up that have been hanging through the series so far, and I’m very pleased with how it turned out. I look forward to the next mystery!

I alternately read and listened to the story, and I recommend either version. Kate Handford has done a wonderful job bringing Mallory to life, making each character distinct, both male and female, and with the different accents. I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed. 

4.5 Stars

Book Description:

Disturbing the Dead is the latest in a unique series with one foot in the 1890s and the other in the present day. The A Rip Through Time crime novels are a genre-blending, atmospheric romp from New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong.

Victorian Scotland is becoming less strange to modern-day homicide detective Mallory Atkinson. Though inhabiting someone else’s body will always be unsettling, even if her employers know that she’s not actually housemaid Catriona Mitchell, ever since the night both of them were attacked in the same dark alley 150 years apart. Mallory likes her job as assistant to undertaker/medical examiner Dr. Duncan Gray, and is developing true friends―and feelings―in this century.

So, understanding the Victorian fascination with death, Mallory isn't that surprised when she and her friends are invited to a mummy unwrapping at the home of Sir Alastair Christie. When their host is missing when it comes time to unwrap the mummy, Gray and Mallory are asked to step in. And upon closer inspection, it’s not a mummy they’ve unwrapped, but a much more modern body.