Till Death Do Us Part by Laurie Elizabeth Flynn

The premise of this book sounded promising, and although I didn't know what the tag "Women's Fiction" meant, it didn't say "Romance," so I thought I was safe. Nope. I think women's fiction is another way of saying this is a romance story. I'm not fond of romance, but based on the popularity of authors specializing in this genre, I think I'm a minority. That was one of the reasons I was disappointed in this book, but just one.

After a whirlwind courtship, Josh and June quickly marry, much to the dismay of those closest to them. Wedded bliss quickly turns to horror when Josh is presumed drowned on their honeymoon. Flash forward ten years to 2022: June is now engaged to Kyle, and while photographing engagement pictures, she sure spots Josh in a crowd. Once June spotted him, she seemed to see him everywhere, including on a winery website in Napa, California. Could he still be alive?

The story then shifts to a winery in Napa in 1999. Bev discovers her husband has cheated on her. She struggles with his unfaithfulness, but not wanting to harm the reputation of their winery, she tries to overcome her feeling of betrayal.

I don't want to spoil the plot, and I've never discussed an ending, so I won't go into details, but I will say I found it hard to swallow. There are twists galore, and even though I wasn't invested in either June or Bev, I kept reading to see what would happen. I love wine, but I got tired of the explanations of the ins and outs of wine-making. I'd say this book was not my cup of tea, but saying it's not my glass of wine is more appropriate.

2/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 13, 2024. 

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The Queen City Detective Agency by Snowden Wright

 

Set in the still racially charged 1980s Mississippi, this book follows a Black private investigator and her white partner as they get embroiled in a tricky case involving murder, potential suicide, and the shadowy Dixie Mafia. It's an excellent Southern crime novel.

After Dixie Mafia member Lewis "Turnip" Coogan falls or jumps to his death from the roof of the Meridian, Mississippi courthouse, Clementine Baldwin and partner Dixon Hicks are hired by Coogan's widow, who is convinced he was murdered, to find his killer. Turnip was accused of killing prominent real estate developer Randall Hubbard. Still, as Clem and Dixon begin digging into Turnip's death, they begin to untangle a web of shady characters, all of whom could be involved with the deaths. It falls to Clem and Dixon to follow the strands of the web to uncover the truth.

This is an atmospheric book with interesting characters and a complex plot. It illuminates what it means to be Black in the South, including the subtle and not-so-subtle digs and racist attitudes. Clem is a strong character who deftly tap dances her way through the societal layers and political intrigue to solve the deaths of the two men. Written with wit and compassion, it takes a magnifying glass to the 1980s South. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 13, 2024.

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The Last Word by Elly Griffiths

 

Although this is billed as a Harbinder Kaur book, the detective has a supporting role, with the three characters from The Postscript Murders again taking center stage. Not that that is a bad thing—I love those characters—but I would have preferred more Harbinder.

When author Melody Chambers dies, her daughters, sure she was murdered by their step-father, employ detectives Naatalka and Edwin to discover the truth. An unlikely duo, 30-something Ukranian-born Natalka and eight-four-year-old Edwin, had successfully solved the murder of their friend, Peggy, a few years earlier. Suspecting there is a link between Melody's death and the death of an obituary writer, Edwin goes undercover with Benedict, Natalka's life partner, at a writer's retreat. No sooner do they arrive when one of the attendees mysteriously dies. Up to their eyeballs in murder victims and suspects, the trio begin sifting through the evidence with some help from Detective Harbinder Kaur and the local constabulary. Unfortunately, their activities have put them in the crosshairs of the murderer. It's now a race against time with their lives in jeopardy.

I love Natalka, Edwin, and Benedict and thoroughly enjoyed them in The Postscript Murders. This time, the complicated plot isn't as intriguing as in The Postscript Murders. The Last Word isn't as fast-paced or humorous either, but its twists and character interaction are first-rate. I would have preferred Harbinder's presence, as she is another excellent character. This is another good book from Elly Griffiths.

 4/5 stars.

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Burn by Peter Heller

 I loved Heller's The River and The Guide. Both were back-to-nature murder mysteries that painted a wild environment filled with natural and artificial danger. My favorite book of his is The Dog Stars, a dystopian work that captured my imagination. Burn is another dystopian work of fiction that is all too probable, given today's political climate. That is not to say it's political, just that it is easy to imagine right now.

Childhood friends Jess and Storey embark on their annual hunting trip in Maine to escape the political turmoil sweeping the United States. They emerge to find towns decimated and being shot at by both secessionists and the U.S. military. Living off their wits and scavenging food, they try to get to neutral territory and work their way home. However, an unexpected encounter alters their plans, and they must adjust to new circumstances using their survival skills.

This book discusses male friendships and the dangers of clinging to an ideology at the expense of family. It has many flashbacks to show why the bond between Jess and Storey is so strong. I liked that it does not take a political stand or seek to explore belief systems. As always, Heller does an excellent job weaving nature into an intriguing plot with well-drawn characters. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 13, 2024.

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House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias

 I love Gabino Iglesias's book The Devil Takes You Home. It is eerie and spellbinding, and this book is equally spellbinding and suspenseful, with interesting characters.

Gabe, Bimbo, Xavier, and Tavo are friends with tighter bonds than most blood brothers. Their pact of defending each other goes back to their childhoods in Puerto Rico and still holds today: mess with one, and you mess with all four. When the island's leading drug dealer kills Bimbo's mother, they vow to get revenge for her. They quickly realize they are in over their heads when they discover the drug kingpin's allies are not of this world and are not easily killed. Can their determination overcome evil spirits as well as their human enemies?

This interweaving of myths and legends provides an intriguing plot that is the basis of the dangers the friends face. As the four face formidable obstacles in their quest for vengeance, the reader watches as each character transitions into manhood. A story of love, revenge, and loyalty, this powerful book tests the bonds of loyalty and reality. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mulholland Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 6, 2024.

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A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

 T. Kingfisher does an excellent job creating modern-day fairy tales that the Brothers Grimm would enjoy. Her dark tales are imaginative with a wicked sense of humor. A Sorceress Comes to Call is no exception.

Fourteen-year-old Cordelia has two friends: her horse Falada and a neighbor girl who is too polite to ignore her. Living with her mother, Evangeline, who can control Cordelia's movements and speech at will, Cordelia yearns for a normal life. Evangeline, however, has aspirations of marrying Cordelia to a wealthy man. To get a toehold in society, Evangeline enchants a wealthy Squire for herself to better Cordelia's chances of finding a worthy husband. Feeling helpless to stop her mother from using her magic on the Squire, Cordelia grows close to the Squire's sister, Hester, who recognizes what Evangeline is doing. Together, they try to outwit Evangeline, but can their cunning overcome magic?

This is a well-written book with excellent pacing and interesting characters. It contains mystery, murder, and intrigue. Kingfisher is a master storyteller who makes magic both believable and otherworldly. I found the book both engrossing and entertaining. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 6, 2024.

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The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey

 The two authors who penned The Expanse series are back! The Mercy of Gods is a promising start to a new space opera series built on a grand world-building scale with interesting characters and non-stop action.

The humans on Anjiin are caught up in the politics of the moment when the Caryx invade the planet, killing the population into submission and then taking the best and brightest to their home planet. One captured research group is kept intact and given a problem to solve in competition with another enslaved species. The stakes are high: whichever group succeeds lives while the loser dies. Led by the brilliant but mercurial Tonnar Freis, the team must overcome technological obstacles and assaults from the rival research team to solve the problem. Dafyd Alkhor rises above his role as a research associate to understand what drives the bloodthirsty Caryx and see what they need to do to survive long term. Now, he must convince the others.

The Mercy of Gods has an expansive yet complex plot, finely drawn characters, and alien races. It is a fast-paced book full of political intrigue. I especially liked the descriptions of the Caryx and some of the other oddly-configured species. The literary license taken about how these races exist in the same air and gravity bothered me at times, but I was so engrossed in the story that I let that slide.

I am looking forward to many more books about the exploits of Dafyd and his friends. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 6, 2024.

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