Murder on Hunter’s Eve (2024) Morgan Stang

Steampunk, Queer

Honestly, I had completely forgotten the bit at the end of the previous book that would have kept events in this book from being so surprising.

(A)n old, blind woman sat nearby the entrance, holding up a bowl filled with money.

“Hmm, complimentary currency,” said Mr Homes, rubbing at his chin. “Seems rather fishy.”

Self-Published

Rating: 8/10

Lamplight Murder Mysteries: Murder at Spindle Manor (2022), Murder on the Lamplight Express (2023), Murder on Hunter’s Eve (2024)

Shady Hollow Mysteries by Juneau Black

Mystery, Cozy

I debated whether to categorize this series primarily as fantasy or mystery, and went back and forth several times. It’s a mystery series, and there aren’t any magical elements–except for the fact all the characters are animals.

If you changed the characters to humans you wouldn’t have to change about the story, aside from a few bits I found delightful.

Orville and Meade examined the tree. “Look like teeth marks,” Meade said. “Could be muskrat or beaver.”

The beavers standing nearby huffed with offended pride. “We would never!” one declared.

“And, anyway, we’ve got tools for that!” another added, lifting a long saw the team had brought along.

A third beaver said, “Yeah, we’re not barbarians.”

But many passages could stand as they are.

“Ah, but now you have the important phrase on the advice of counsel. That helps a lot. I’ll write up a letter, too, for you to shove in Stone’s face when he gets overeager.”

“And what if he gets so mad that he fires me?”

“He’d be a fool to do that,” Mr. Fallow said promptly. “Everyone knows you’re one of his best reporters. But just in case, I’ll add a paragraph explaining that it would be actionable if you were to lose your job as a result of your ethical stance. No one wants to be on the receiving end of actionable.”

Regardless, I picked up the first book and had to fight not to binge the rest of the series.

Ratings: 8/10 to 9/10

Published by Vintage Crime/Black Lizard

Shady Hollow (2015), Cold Clay (2017), Mirror Lake (2020), Evergreen Chase (2021), Phantom Pond (2023), Twilight Falls (2023), Summers End (2024)

Mortal Follies series by Alexis Hall

Historical, Romance, Queer

This is Alexis Hall at his most snarky and delightful. The guardrails completely fall away when he’s writing in a fantasy world, so be fully prepared for a romp.

A loud bang echoed through the house.

“Ah.” The Duke of Annadale rose. “We should go. It appears one of your friends has found my pistol.”

…

“There was a shot.”

“Oh, yes.” Casually, Miss Bickle indicated the baize-inlaid box that lay open just behind her. It still contained one unfired pistol. “I found those under the bed and wondered whether they were loaded. It seems they were.”

Which is not to say there isn’t plenty of social commentary for our world.

“I am—you must surely realise—in a most compromising position and should any gentleman happen upon me in this state, I would be quite ruined.”

“Then you should have had the foresight to be born richer or more male.”

I mean.

And whereas in the enlightened twenty-first century the marriage of a British aristocrat to a Person of Colour is a wholly unremarkable thing that results in no hostility whatsoever, in the bad old days of the 1800s it caused quite a scandal.

Ratings: 9/10

Published by Del Rey

Mortal Follies (2023), Confounding Oaths (2024)

Uncanny Romance series by Lish McBride

Supernatural, Romance, Boinking

This is a supernatural romance, but like all of Lish McBride’s books, the world-building is the best part.

Well, ok, also the dialog.

He cocked his head to the side. “What does evening goth smell like?”

“Coffee, clove, and ennui.” I picked up my bag. “The ennui is there in the morning, but it takes all day for the smell to really set in.”

These are not, however, cozy stories (aside from the boinking), as several of the characters have to deal with toxic families / relationships and other

It was one of those moments where I was just so exhausted with myself.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t take turns being anyone else.

Rating: 9/10

Self-Published

A Little Too Familiar (2022) 8/10, Rough Around the Hedges (2023)

The Masquerades of Spring (2024) Ben Aaronovitch

Mystery, Historical, Queer, Novella

This Rivers of London novella takes Nightingale across the ocean, and is written from the POV of the school mate with whom he is staying.

Nightingale danced just the way I’d expected him to, with grace and precision but with no sense that he was letting go or losing himself in the music.

It’s Prohibition NYC. It’s the 1920s jazz scene. And it’s an historical delve into queer culture of the time.

Also, for the first time Nightingale is explicitly ace.

“I’ve never really understood what you might call physical love,” said Nightingale. “But I do understand the bonds of friendship and family.”

Rating: 9/10

Published by Subterranean Press

Rivers of London: Midnight Riot (2011), Moon Over Soho (2011), Whispers Under Ground (2012), Broken Homes (2014), Foxglove Summer (2014), The Hanging Tree (2017), The Furthest Station (2017), Lies Sleeping (2018), The October Man (2019),  False Value (2020), Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection (2020), What Abigail Did That Summer (2021), Amongst Our Weapons (2022), Winter’s Gifts (2023), The Masquerades of Spring (2024)

The Books of 2024