Who Killed Sherlock Holmes? Audio Book (2016) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (Shadow Police) ‘Who are these people?’ said Costain. ‘What sort of gang includes old ladies, American mercenaries, prisoners called Dean Michael and South Sea islanders of limited stature?’ She had to exercise harder these days, she’d found, because her body was used […]

Think of England (2014) K.J. Charles Set in England in 1904 (Peakholme) had been an extraordinarily modern creation at that time, equipped with the very latest innovations, with running water in all the bathrooms, heated by hot-water radiators and illuminated throughout by electricity from his own hydroelectric generator. “It was a damned business. My company […]

Proper English (2019) K.J. Charles Set in England in 1902 If Pat stayed, she would continue running Skirmidge House, and either she would resent Olivia for treating her as an upper servant, or Olivia would resent her for usurping her rights as head of the household Pat did not corset. She had had no mother […]

The Missing Page (2021) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers) Set in in England in 1947 “The letter from the solicitor said the uncle’s will stipulated that all legatees attend the reading at the family home in Cornwall or forfeit their bequest.” Leo’s eyebrows shot straight up. “Was it his uncle’s dying wish to reenact a […]

The Last Drop of Hemlock (2023) Katharine Schellman (Nightingale Mysteries) Set in New York City in 1924. Vivian enjoys her new job at the Nightingale–and even more enjoys making deliveries for the dress shop instead of sewing. But when Bea’s uncle, who had just started working at the Nightingale as a bouncer, is found dead […]

Hither, Page (2019) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers) Set in England in 1946. This story reminds me very much of an Agatha Christie, only with boinking. A combination of A Murder is Announced and The Moving Finger. None of the witnesses could suggest a possible motive, nor did any of them think Mrs. Hoggett had […]

The Severed Streets, Audio Book (2015) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (Shadow Police) TW: murder (on the page), drug use, death of a main character, general horribleness This story astounds me every single time I read or listen to it. ‘Would you please answer that,’ said Sarah, ‘and tell them to fuck off?’ Quill […]

London Falling, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (Shadow Police) TW: child abuse, child death, murder, torture, faked suicide, general horribleness. He’d been out, sort of, at his last nick. A few of the lads had asked, so he’d told them. And then his DI, Pete Grieves, had, too, over a pint—deliberately […]

Two Wrongs Make a Right (2022) Chloe Liese (The Wilmot Sisters) I picked up my first book by Chloe Liese because it was highly rated and had a female main character with ASD. I’ve very much enjoyed every book of hers I’ve read since then, although I don’t read them one after another, because they […]

Mortal Follies (2023) Alexis Hall Set in alternate England in 1841. This isn’t just a story of love and curses and betrayal and hot springs and sacrifices. It’s a story of all those things told by the most unreliable of story tellers. I am that knavish sprite that frights the maidens of the villagery. I […]

Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection, Audio Book (2020) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by: the author, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Ben Elliot, Felix Grainger, Sam Peter Jackson, Alex Kingston, Shvorne Marks, and Penelope Rawlins (Rivers of London) Part One: The Peter Grant Stories The Home Crowd Advantage The Domestic The Cockpit The Loneliness […]

The Mistletoe Motive (2021) Chloe Liese Gabriella Di Natale love Christmas. She also loves working in Bailey’s Bookshop, where she can recommend books (especially her favorite romances) to customers. But the store is in trouble. A chain is trying to put them out of business, so the Bailey’s hired another manager–one focused on business–to try […]

Amongst Our Weapons, Audio Book (2020) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) before the PC on the passenger side got a chance to ask Guleed why she was loitering while wearing a hijab in a built-up area, the driver leaned forward to get a look at us and recognized me. “My dad […]

Stubbed Toes and Dating Woes (2023) Dahlia Donovan Niclas Ruiz loves his archeological work. He also has a huge crush on his brother’s best friend. Falk “Grizz” Evensen is content with his life. He has his own business (which he runs with the help of his best friend) and is successful. But his life is […]

Socially Orcward (2021) Lisa Henry and Sarah Honey (Adventures in Aguillon) Dave’s favorite thing is dragons. Especially his dragons. And he is thankful that his kings gave him a tower where he could raise and keep them. Simon Perrin doesn’t know how to do much, but his willing to try. What he does know, however, […]

Glass Tidings (2016) Amy Jo Cousins This story is full of little things. Then he changed his mind and gave the jeans a quick hand wash in the utility sink next to the dryer, unable to stand the thought of all that blood swishing around with Eddie’s clothes in the wash. Eddie didn’t trust anyone […]

False Value, Audio Book (2020) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) Johnson had made a point of calling the human resources department “HR” rather than its official internal company name, the Magrathean Ape-Descended Life Form Utilization Service, just as he called the department I had just joined “Security” rather than the Vogon […]

Shelter in Garnet Run (2023) Roan Parrish (Garnet Run) We met River Mills in Best Laid Plans as one of the teens who hangs out in Rye’s derelict house, and again in Adam’s younger sibling in The Lights on Knockbridge Lane. Cassidy is an ethical taxidermist, often working with animals who were hit by cars. […]

Last Call at the Nightingale (2022) Katharine Schellman (Nightingale Mysteries) Set in New York City in 1924 Vivian Kelly and her sister Florence are glad to have jobs, a roof over the heads, and food on the table (even if it isn’t always enough food). (W)orking at a dressmaker’s shop meant they both had to […]

Lies Sleeping, Audio Book (2018) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) The nanny landed like a cat on the pavement in what I thought was clear defiance of the laws of physics. I don’t care how supple you are, landing like that from three stories up should have driven her shin bones […]

Rough Around the Hedges (2023) Lish McBride (Uncanny Romance) Vanessa Woodbridge and her sister defied their father–and paid the price when both were cut off. But Vanessa wants to go to school, but to do so she needs her father to verify her education–since she and her sister were both home schooled. He sighed. “You […]

The Hanging Tree , Audio Book (2017) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) She really had no idea what she was asking for, but I knew better than to try and explain. “Understood,” I said. “And Peter,” said Lady Ty, “Nightingale is not to know about this—is that clear?” “Crystal,” I said. […]

Bingo Love (2018) Tee Franklin, Joy San & Jenn St-Onge Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray first met in 1963 at church bingo. They became best friends but then realized they felt more for each other than they were expecting. Separated by adults, they se each other again for 50 years. It’s a story of history […]

The Furthest Station, Audio Book (2017) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) Don’t get me wrong, I like the countryside. In fact, some of my best friends are geographical features. It’s just a tricky place to operate in. Boudicca’s burial site at Kings Cross—remember that?” We’d done it as a field trip—Platform […]

A Little Too Familiar (2022) Lish McBride (Uncanny Romance) Declan needs to get away. His sister has fallen in love with his ex-girlfriend, and since they were all living together, it’s mighty uncomfortable. So he’s leaving Portland for Seattle. Even after a century and a half of being in the open, the Uncanny still made […]

What Abigail Did That Summer, Audio Book (2021) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Shvorne Marks & Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) “Are you wearing a collar?” “Good, isn’t it?” says Indigo. “I’m undercover as a dog. Lets me move about in the Brick in daylight.” What she looks like is a big fox wearing a collar. […]

Foxglove Summer Audio Book (2014) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) it was clear that requests for assistance were now being routed through the Police National Information Coordination Center (PNICC), commonly pronounced “panic”—particularly if you’ve reached the stage of having to call it. The problem was that once the government pushed through […]

Secrets Typed in Blood (2022) Stephen Spotswood (Pentecost & Parker) Set in New York City in 1947 This is one of the books that I wanted to read, but couldn’t get myself in the mood for. So I went ahead and read it. First, I really hate the new covers. Well, hate is a strong […]

Board to Death (2023) Cj Connor (A Board Game Shop Mystery) After a failed marriage, Ben has returned home to Salt Lake City to help run his dad’s game store–which is currently making rent only because of their in-house cafe. Only two or three customers lingered around that area midday, as it was now. More […]

Broken Homes, Audio Book (2014) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) People have got the wrong idea about police territoriality—a full-scale murder inquiry is going to set you back a quarter of a million quid minimum. If Manderly could dump it on the Met then it would be our budget and our […]

Whispers Under Ground, Audio Book (2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) My mum translated this in her head to “witchfinder,” which was good because like most West Africans, she considered witchfinding a more respectable profession than policeman. this was a murder inquiry, and woe betide any officer who breaks the chain […]

Paladin’s Faith (2023) T. Kingfisher (The Saint of Steel) Marguerite Florian left town in a hurry after helping her friend Grace led her to trouble (Paladin’s Grace). Which wasn’t necessarily unexpected, since Marguerite is a spy. So she turns to the White Rat. Apparently one of the problems they had solved was bribery. You couldn’t […]

Moon Over Soho, Audio Book (2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) People don’t like to speak ill of the dead even when they’re monsters, let alone when they’re loved ones. People like to forget any bad things that someone did and why should they remember? It’s not like they’re going to […]

Midnight Riot, Audio Book (2012) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) So Newton, like all good seventeenth-century intellectuals, wrote in Latin because that was the international language of science, philosophy and, I found out later, upmarket pornography. “You’ve been dead for two hundred years, Henry,” I said. “I’m fairly certain you can’t […]

Murder on the Lamplight Express (2023) Morgan Stang (The Lamplight Murder Mysteries) Like the previous book, this story is delightful. The sequel to Murder at Spindle Manor finds Isabeau Agarwal and her partner racing to catch a train. Literally, as they Isabeau received her orders to “ensure the safety of all passengers and crew until […]

The Wonder Engine, Audio Book (2018/2019) T. Kingfisher narrated by Khristine Hvam (Clocktaur War) This book picks up where the previous book left off. The group has made it to Anuket City, but have to find Brother Amadai, avoid the crime lord who wants Slate dead, and somehow stop the Clockwork Boys. I’ll be honest, […]

Muscle Cub (2023) Slade James (Bear Camp) Despite living nearby, Paul has never gone to Bear Camp. But he’s been single for awhile now, and isn’t getting any younger, so his friends convince him to take a weekend to help them celebrate their birthdays. What Paul doesn’t expect is Austin: young, handsome, and did he […]

Clockwork Boys, Audio Book (2017/2019) T. Kingfisher narrated by Khristine Hvam (Clocktaur War) A paladin, an assassin, a forger, a scholar. Three of whom have been sentenced to a suicide mission as repayment for their crimes. The have to get into Anuket City, find a scholar’s lost journal, and discover a way to stop the […]

Swordheart, Audio Book (2018/2021) T. Kingfisher narrated by Jesse Vilinsky I’d been playing this as background for a couple of months–not especially paying attention, but wanting voices talking. Then I finished Michael Prichard’s narration of the Spenser series (I absolutely cannot stand listening to David Duke’s narration) and while floundering trying to figure out what […]

A Power Unbound (2023) Freya Marske (The Last Binding) Set in England in 1909 The final book in the Last Binding Trilogy centers on Alston, Lord Hawthorn who has been arrogant and supercilious throughout the series, but here becomes Jack, and Alan, Alanzo Rossi, who met Alston, Maud, and Violet on the ship from America […]

Served Hot (2015) Annabeth Albert (Portland Heat) I thought I was in the mood for this. I was looking for stories with complicated grief, and this story has that. “You feel what you need to feel.” What did I know about grief? I would be pissed, but I wasn’t David. And if David’s sadness made […]

Barbacoa, Bomba, and Betrayal (2023) Raquel V. Reyes (A Caribbean Kitchen Mystery) What did I like about this story? “No te olvides de tus uvas,” Mami warned me. It was a tradition practiced in many Latinx and Hispanic homes. You had to eat twelve grapes for good luck before the clock struck to signal the […]

System Collapse (2023) Martha Wells (Murderbot Diaries) MURDERBOT! This story picks up immediately following the events of Network Effect–ART and Murderbot are trying to keep their humans safe from the Barish-Estranza corporation while forging a planetary charter and waiting for reinforcement from ART’s university. It’s going as it always does for Murderbot. So the next […]

Murder at Spindle Manor (2022) Morgan Stang (Lamplight Murder Mysteries) Isabeau Agarwal is a huntress, and her latest hunt has led her to Spindle Manor, to search out a monster that takes the memory and skins of it victims, replicating them until it finds a new victim. “Is there any way I may be of […]

Looking for Rachel Wallace, Audio Book (1980) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard (Spenser) Publisher: Random House Audio Rating: 8/10

Murder and Mamon (2023) Mia P. Manansala (A Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery) Lila Macapagal’s godmothers are getting ready to open their new business–a laundrymat–but it seems like their gossiping ways are finally going to cause them trouble, as the business is vandalized with the message “Mind Your Own Business”. On top of that Ninang April’s […]

Murder at Midnight (2023) Katharine Schellman (Lily Adler) Set in England in 1816 The fourth Lily Adler book finds her at a house party with her late husband’s family, Matthew Spenser, and the Hartleys. Lily had always found their custom of calling each other by their middle names—the names chosen by their mother, rather than […]

A Restless Truth (2022) Freya Marske (Last Binding) Set in England in 1908 (or so) One of the things I especially like about this series are the lovely secondary characters. “Miss Debenham,” he said, warm with pride, “meet Lady Albert Barton. My wife.” Oh. Lady Albert Barton rolled her eyes and sat down heavily on […]

Finders Keepers (2018) N.R. Walker Sunday was just like any other Sunday, except this one was the day before Monday. The very Monday I was spending with Griffin. So naturally it dragged like a Wednesday, which was my Monday. “Oh, you’re not staying for dinner?” I asked his Mum. Dane stared at the side of […]

A Murderous Relation, Audio Edition (2020) Deanna Raybourn narrated by Angele Masters (Veronica Speedwell) Set in England in 1888 I apparently enjoyed this more listening than I did originally reading. his argument is as specious as Lamarck’s Theory of Inheritance. It seemed wildly unfair that he had proverbial first crack at searching her things when […]