The Missing Page (2022) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers #2) Set in Cornwall in 1947 “One spends so much effort not thinking about a thing that it becomes a sort of obsession.” James was struck by the sudden thought, both ghastly and somehow reassuring, that this was not the first time Leo had been called […]
The Last Suppers, Audiobook (1994) Diane Mott Davidson narrated by Barbara Rosenblat (Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #4) Goldy and Tom are supposed to be getting married, but as she waits at the church she gets a call–Father Olsen was murdered and Tom was the one who discovered him. Characters: Goldy Bear, Archibald Korman, Julian Teller, […]
The Cereal Murders, Audiobook (1993) Diane Mott Davidson narrated by Barbara Rosenblat (Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #3) Characters: Goldy Bear, John Richard Korman, Archibald Korman, Julian Teller, Marla Korman, Tom Schulz Audrey Coopersmith, Headmaster Alfred Perkins, Miss Suzanne Ferrell, Keith Andrews, Stan Marensky, Rhoda Marensky, Heather Coopersmith, Hank Dawson, Greer Dawson, Caroline Dawson, Macguire Perkins, […]
Hither, Page (2019) Cat Sebastian (Page & Sommers #1) Set in England in 1946 You can’t hold it against him. He had a bad war. He ought to have developed a callus over whatever part of his heart was meant for mourning, but instead, it was like a wound that never quite healed. “No, I […]
Gumption & Gumshoes (2013) Alex Kidwell I wanted to shift. I didn’t often, because seriously, what would be the point? None of us did. Personally, I was just really hooked on the opposable thumbs thing that I had as a human. But right then, I wanted to be smaller. And why would you want to […]
And Everything Nice (2016) Ada Maria Soto I adore this short story. “He might not be gay, and he’s probably already got a boyfriend.” “Prescouted. Single, new in town, currently into Elder Scrolls online, and has a pride flag bumper sticker, so out and proud.” “Why are you helping me?” Mark had suffered through the […]
Sleeping Murder (1976) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple, #13) Set in England in 1944. The cover of several copies of this book say, “Miss Marple’s Last Case” which is confusing since it is clearly set well before Nemesis. I arranged with dear Gwenda that I would come round and do a little weeding while she was […]
Catering to Nobody, Audiobook (1990) Diane Mott Davidson narrated by Barbara Rosenblat (Goldy Bear Culinary Mystery #1) It’s been a long time since I read this series. Probably the late 90s and early 2000s. And I read them out of order back then, since I was picking them up used. I’m listening to this on […]
Uncommonly Tidy Poltergeists (2017) Angel Martinez They half-watched late-night television and tried to pin down what Taro had witnessed. The large sentient insects possibility didn’t make him feel better at all. “You’re a very kind person, Mr. Not-a-Root Vegetable.” “Thank you, Mr. Absolutely-Not-Named Jack.” Characters: Taro Torres, Mr. Manny Torres, Mrs. Lise Torres, Ben, Luka, […]
Nemesis (1971) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple #12) As she woke again, her first impression was that which so often follows dreams, a belief that the dream in question had solved everything. “Of course,” she thought, “of course!” His eyebrows were false and that solved the whole thing. He was the criminal. Sadly, it came to […]
The Last Devil to Die, Audiobook (2023) Richard Osman narrated by Fiona Shaw (Thursday Murder Club #4) The young man they have just interviewed is called Thomas Murdoch. He said “no comment” to every question except when Jill asked who had sold him the heroin and he said “five pensioners,” but even his solicitor looked […]
The Bullet That Missed, Audiobook (2022) Richard Osman narrated by Fiona Shaw (Thursday Murder Club #3) At one point they walked past a house on Trafalgar Street that Bogdan told her was a crack den, and then past an old forge on London Road where a Lithuanian was buried. Bogdan would make a very good […]
At Bertram’s Hotel (1965) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple, #11) We actually have two quite different sets of bedrooms. The English we put in one lot, the Americans in the other. The rooms all look alike, but they are full of actual differences—electric razors, and showers as well as tubs in some of the bathrooms. “One […]
The Man Who Died Twice, Audiobook (2021) Richard Osman narrated by Lesley Manville (Thursday Murder Club #2) That twinkle in his eye was undimmed. The twinkle that gave an entirely undeserved suggestion of wisdom and charm. The twinkle that could make you walk down the aisle with a man almost ten years your junior and […]
A Caribbean Mystery (1964) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple #10) Dancing, lights, the music of a band (even a steel band), all that surely was for youth. But where was youth? Studying, she supposed, at universities, or doing a job—with a fortnight’s holiday a year. … A place like this was too far away and too […]
Shady Hollow, Audiobook (2015) Juneau Black narrated by Cassandra Campbell (A Shady Hollow Mystery #1) I still love the story, but the narration isn’t my favorite. After finishing Blitz, this became the listen-in-the-car book. When I previously suggested Michael might enjoy this series, he scoffed and said it wasn’t for him. He ended up enjoying […]
The Thursday Murder Club, Audiobook (2020) Richard Osman narrated by Lesley Manville (Thursday Murder Club #1) Elizabeth admires suspicion above all else and invited Ron to flick through the file of a scoutmaster found burned to death in 1982 in woodland just off the A27. She soon spotted his key strength—namely, he never believes a […]
The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side (1962) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple, #9) The people, too, looked unreal. The trousered young women, the rather sinister-looking young men and boys, the exuberant bosoms of the fifteen-year-old girls. Miss Marple couldn’t help thinking that it all looked terribly depraved. … Mothers came out on doorsteps calling to […]
That Kind of Guy (2019) Talia Hibbert (Ravenswood #3) In truth, Zach was a messy fucker who resented his own compulsion to fill in other people’s gaps but couldn’t make himself stop. “I like being around you, Zach. Even when you’re not performing.” She’d been taught so thoroughly that standing up for herself was an […]
Untouchable (2018) Talia Hibbert (Ravenswood #2) If you want me to read all of this, it’ll take me a while. And I’ll need digital copies.” “You will?” He glanced up. “Oh, yeah. Turns out I’m dyslexic.” Zach: Want to get a drink? Hannah: No. Zach: Want to eat cookies and bitch about people? Hannah: Meet […]
Blitz, Audiobook (2022) Daniel O’Malley narrated by Moira Quirk (Checquy Files #3) And then there were no more shots, only the unmistakable sound of someone having run out of bullets. Responsible for supernatural security throughout the British Empire, the executives of the Checquy were all horrendously busy and had been even before the nation entered […]
4:50 from Paddington (1957) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple, #8) “You’re getting deaf, Jane.” “Just a little, perhaps. People do not seem to me to enunciate their words as clearly as they used to do. But it wasn’t that I did not hear you. I’m afraid I wasn’t paying attention.” The two boys arrived on the […]
Speculations in Sin, Audiobook (2024) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #7) Set in London in 1883 “Do you know much about them?” I asked hopefully. “Of course not. Most of these grand establishments of the City won’t let a lady walk into them—at least not one unaccompanied by her father, uncle, […]
A Pocket Full of Rye (1953) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple, #7) Miss Grosvenor was an incredibly glamorous blonde. She wore an expensively cut little black suit and her shapely legs were encased in the very best and most expensive black-market nylons. Where was there a doctor near here? Nobody knew. Miss Bell seized a telephone […]
The Secret of Bow Lane, Audiobook (2022) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #6) Set in London in 1882 Characters: Mrs. Kat Holloway, Mr. Davis, Mrs. Redfern, Mrs. Bywater, Mr. Bywater, Tess, Lady Cynthia Clifford, James McAdam, Daniel McAdam, Mr. Errol Fielding, Caleb Constable Greene, Mr. Thanos, Grace Holloway, Nettie, Bobby Lady […]
They Do It With Mirrors (1952) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple, #6) Everyone’s life has a tempo. Ruth’s was presto whereas Miss Marple’s was content to be adagio. A man who with shrewd business acumen and perfect honesty had built up a fortune so colossal that really philanthropy had been the only solution to the disposal […]
Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (1985) Agatha Christie The Thirteen Problems (1932) 1. The Tuesday Night Club (1927) 2. The Idol House of Astarte (1928) 3. Ingots of Gold (1928) 4. The Bloodstained Pavement (1928) 5. Motive v. Opportunity (1928) 6. The Thumbmark of St. Peter (1928) 7. The Blue Geranium (1929) 8. The […]
Death at the Crystal Palace (2021) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #5) Set in London in 1882 Characters: Mrs. Kat Holloway, Mr. Davis, Mrs. Bywater, Mr. Bywater, Mrs. Redfern, Tess, Mrs. Millburn, Mr. Elgin Thanos, Mr. Errol Fielding, James McAdam, Daniel McAdam, Lady Clifford, Lord Clifford, Lady Cynthia Clifford, Bobby Lady […]
An Unsuitable Heir (2017) KJ Charles (Sins of the Cities, #3) Set in London and Norfolk England in 1873 I do like Mark. “Gone back off home now to bring down the Empire, trzymajmy kciuki.” He tipped his glass. “What was that?” “Polish. Means ‘Let’s keep our fingers crossed.’?” “Did you just drink to the […]
A Murder Is Announced (1950) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple, #5) “I do wish you wouldn’t read that horrid paper, Edmund. Mrs. Finch doesn’t like it at all.” “I don’t see what my political views have to do with Mrs. Finch.” “And it isn’t,” pursued Mrs. Swettenham, “as though you were a worker. You don’t do […]
An Unnatural Vice (2017) K.J. Charles (Sins of the Cities #2) Set in London and Norfolk in 1873 He looked like the sin of angels, like the sweetest fruit at the goblin market, and Nathaniel despised everything about him. “Oh, for— What did you think I was doing?” “Didn’t have a clue.” “It might work,” […]
Murder in the East End, Audiobook (2020) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #4) Set in London in 1882 “Daniel and I were raised together, and he tells me you know under what circumstances. We refer to each other as brother, but we were no such thing, though as close as. After […]
An Unseen Attraction (2017) K.J. Charles (Sins of the Cities, #1) Set in London in 1873 This is one of my favorite queer historicals. It’s the first book in a series, and I’ve read just this book, or just the first two, because I adore Clem and Rowley. Look me in the eyes, boy! had […]
Death in Kew Gardens, Audiobook (2019) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #3) Set in London in 1881 I always met the beggars exactly between the streetlamps, where the darkness was greatest. The poor things feared the light, knowing they could be arrested for being unemployed and hungry. “Why didn’t you tell […]
The Body in the Library (1942) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) Mrs Bantry reflected a minute and then applied an urgent conjugal elbow to her sleeping spouse. ‘Arthur, Arthur, wake up.’ Colonel Bantry grunted, muttered, and rolled over on his side. ‘Wake up, Arthur. Did you hear what she said?’ ‘Very likely,’ said Colonel Bantry indistinctly. […]
The Moving Finger (1942) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) ‘I can see you are a very clever young man—but not quite enough confidence in yourself. You ought to have!’ Joanna gave a loud hoot. ‘For goodness’ sake don’t encourage him to feel like that. He thinks quite enough of himself as it is.’ ‘Be quiet, Joanna,’ […]
The Murder at the Vicarage (1930) Agatha Christie (Miss Marple) ‘I’m evidently not a housekeeper by nature. I find it better to leave things to Mary and just make up my mind to be uncomfortable and have nasty things to eat.’ Miss Marple is a white-haired old lady with a gentle, appealing manner – Miss […]
Scandal Above Stairs, Audiobook (2018) Jennifer Ashley narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza (Below Stairs Mystery #2) Set in London in 1881 I renewed my conviction that he was not married as I viewed his rumpled frock coat and noted a missing button on his waistcoat. No wife would let her husband be seen like that unless […]
A Dangerous Madness (2014) Michelle Diener (Regency London, #3) Set in London in 1812 “You don’t . . . have the time for it?” Her words seemed to be coming from far, far away. “No. I’m . . . well, soon I’ll be in a bit of bother, m’dear. Or I think I will. And […]
Banquet of Lies (2013) Michelle Diener (Regency London #2) Set in London in 1812 “He reacted without thinking.” “How can you send someone out to starve without thinking?” Iris asked, her voice soft. “We’ve been fattening Mavis up,” Iris said, and something in the way she said it made Gigi go very still. If this […]
The Masquerades of Spring, Audiobook (2024) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith (Rivers of London) Set in New York City in 1926 I do love Kobna Holdbrook-Smith. But most of his American accents are just the slightest bit off and not quite right. Otherwise, I utterly adore everything about this novella. the show, which was […]
The Emperor’s Conspiracy (2012) Michelle Diener (Regency London #1) Set in London in 1811 After being annoyed by the last regency mystery, I wanted to reread a favorite, and of course had to start at the beginning of the series. (H)e was looking at her hands again. “Should I put the gloves back on?” Her […]
Confounding Oaths, Audiobook (2024) Alexis Hall narrated by Nneka Okoye (The Mortal Follies #2) Set in London in 1814 I really love Nneka Okoye’s narration. And of course Alexis Hall’s snark. 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 […]
Posthumous Education, Audiobook (2022) Drew Hayes narrated by Kirby Heyborne (Fred the Vampire Accountant Book 8) “I’m surprised you even want to step back.” “It’s more that I have to, for the good of the company overall.” I struggled to find the right words for my concerns. They were difficult to explain to anyone who […]
A Kiss for Midwinter (2012) Courtney Milan (Brothers Sinister #1.5) Leicester, England 1864 This is one my my favorite historical novellas. He hadn’t chosen to become a doctor so that he could foretell the death of children. He’d been seduced by the stories—the stories of John Snow saving hundreds of lives by careful observation, of […]
The Countess Conspiracy (2013) Courtney Milan (Brothers Sinister #3) Set in Cambridge in 1867 “…the chance that a male cat will show tortoiseshell coloring is so small we cannot calculate it—one in a thousand, perhaps. My theory provides no explanation for such smallness.” The woman’s voice was beginning to rise in pitch, something Violet would […]
The Heiress Effect (2013) Courtney Milan (Brothers Sinister #2) Set in Cambridgeshire, England, 1867 She asked Whitting about his studies, and when he made a wry comment about preferring to concentrate his efforts on the study of liquids, she stared at him. “How surprising.” Her eyes were very round. “I had not thought you to […]
The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan (Brothers Sinister #1) Set in Leicester, England in 1863 “Your Grace,” Stevens finally said, “your concern does you justice.” The man’s toad-eating did him none. Robert met Stevens’s eyes. “No, it doesn’t. It’s called basic human decency, and I deserve no credit for doing what every man should.” “You […]
Murder Most Actual (2021) Alexis Hall These are desperate times, Miss Blaine. And desperate times call for desperate measures.” “Desperate measures that mostly cause problems for people who aren’t you?” “People who aren’t me,” said the colonel, “aren’t really my concern at the moment.” Marriage was getting to the end of the serial and hearing […]
Mortal Follies (2023) Alexis Hall narrated by Nneka Okoye (The Mortal Follies #1) Set in Bath in 1814 I am that knavish sprite that frights the maidens of the villagery. I am Oberon’s jester—was Oberon’s jester, that’s rather the issue. I am called hobgoblin by some and, contrary to what certain people might have told […]